Should I?

[Elliriyanna]

A few weeks ago I lost my lovely Pacman frog Waka. I didn't realize how cold she was getting, one morning when I woke up ... he/She just didn't

I am really debating trying again. I am so afraid to kill another. I don't know how to go about keeping the little one warm. My turtle experience is really not helping me here since if I set up a basking bulb it would make the humidity plummet.

Please help ... both with deciding if I should try again and if I do, How to keep the little one warm.

[Lija]

Well... To answer to that question - are you able to maintain proper conditions? Perhaps you should set up everything, see if it's working and only then get a new one... Or not...

[Elliriyanna]

before I even consider it I need to know how to keep the little one warm, I dont care what it means, Heat pad, dome lamp ... Anything. Other than That keeping conditions right was easy.

[Lija]

The best is to get a controller that will control temp for you. Hydroterm is the awesome for that, it will control both temp and humidity.

so it would look like that, dome with infrared lamp of ceramic heater and the fogger plugged into hydroterm. That controller will keep everything spot on, including night drop in temps.

[Elliriyanna]

I am sorry, it may be because I am sick and my brain isnt working right. But i am not understanding.

I personally havent used a fogger I mist the substrate.

I can EASILY get a dome for a ceramic heat emitter. ( Heck I have a couple sitting around here already from the turtles getting upgrades)

EDIT- I just looked up Hydrotherm ... I am all for splurging for care but I don't have a spare $70 for a controller right now Is there another way?

[Thevacantface]

From the looks of it you have been on this forum for a long time and have actively participated. There is a very detailed care sheet, and extensive amounts of advice on how to keep them in ideal conditions. I'm not going to say it's easy to maintain everything, but the information is readily available. With that said, if you aren't willing to put in the effort or do the research on keeping them happy and healthy, I would strongly advise against getting another. I have three that I keep in identical conditions per the care guidelines, and two are fat, happy frogs, but the third usually won't eat and hasn't grown as well, and it makes me feel like I'm failing him in some way. He doesn't look skinny and continues to grow, but not as well as the others. Frogs aren't for everyone, you might consider a different kind of pet that would be better suited to your climate/dedication/lifestyle.

[Elliriyanna]

I do not understand who you think I am not willing to put in the effort, I asked TONS of questions before getting my frog, Read the care sheet etc. I messed up on my temps. I have done TONS of research ... BUT I FAILED ... So I figured asking here would be the best to do.

Is this the first actual post you have seen from me? I am an obsessive researcher. But I always ask questions before actually getting anything because nothing is better than first hand knowledge.

As for actively participating, I come and go.

[Lija]

From the looks of it you have been on this forum for a long time and have actively participated. There is a very detailed care sheet, and extensive amounts of advice on how to keep them in ideal conditions. I'm not going to say it's easy to maintain everything, but the information is readily available. With that said, if you aren't willing to put in the effort or do the research on keeping them happy and healthy, I would strongly advise against getting another. I have three that I keep in identical conditions per the care guidelines, and two are fat, happy frogs, but the third usually won't eat and hasn't grown as well, and it makes me feel like I'm failing him in some way. He doesn't look skinny and continues to grow, but not as well as the others. Frogs aren't for everyone, you might consider a different kind of pet that would be better suited to your climate/dedication/lifestyle.

Yes everything is available, but sometimes you just have to ask. And it's the best to ask if not sure. always! Research is great, but some advise is needed sometimes too.

elli, you can play around with the dome if it has a dimmer. Controller is the easiest and guaranteed way, but you can play around to see how else you can do it. If you have stuff around, just plug it in and see what works, make sure you have proper temp and humidity gauges though.
Amazon and eBay sells for 50$ I believe. And it worth every last penny.

[Elliriyanna]

Thank you Lija.

This dome does not have a dimmer but getting one that does have one is no big deal.

I checked Amazon and its 70 there. I am sure its worth it And most likely I will end up getting one.

I may have asked this before but what gauges do you use?

Also my last Pacman was from Petsmart, This time I am ordering from a breeder ( If I do decide to get one), I want to do everything right this time. This is the first pet I have had that I feel I just completely failed. ( since I became an adult that is)

I am trying to do everything right if I do this again.

[Thevacantface]

YOU asked for an opinion from the forum, I gave mine. Based on your defensiveness of my intentionally ambiguous statements, obviously I struck a chord. Your interpretation of what I was saying tells me a lot about you, and most of it is bad in terms of you owning a pet. If you are unwilling to drop $70 on a hygrotherm and about that much more on a reptifogger, how can you be expected to take your little friend to a vet if he needs medical care, they are dependent on you.

If you just want advice on keeping the next doomed frog warm, ceramic heat emitter in a dome, connected to a hyrgotherm. Smaller terrariums are easier to keep warm, cover most of the top with something that will insulate to retain more of the heat, add a stick on heater to the side of the tank if necessary. Read the care sheet thoroughly, all this advice is clearly stated there and in multiple other posts.

[Elliriyanna]

Actually I just have anxiety and am naturally defensive, Things I am working on. So thank you for bringing that up.

As for vet care, it has never been an issue in the past. I have 3 vets, one specializes in exotics, One for Neuters for the rats, and one for the cat and dog.

I am sorry that I keep my pets differently than you do. I personally do not feel a fogger is necessary with proper care and misting. As for being unwilling to spend money, Far from it, Its just at this very moment I would rather look for an alternative and buy the Hydrotherm only if needed. I feel with proper monitoring there will be no need for it.

I do not see why you feel the need to attack others.

[LilyPad]

YOU asked for an opinion from the forum, I gave mine. Based on your defensiveness of my intentionally ambiguous statements, obviously I struck a chord. Your interpretation of what I was saying tells me a lot about you, and most of it is bad in terms of you owning a pet. If you are unwilling to drop $70 on a hygrotherm and about that much more on a reptifogger, how can you be expected to take your little friend to a vet if he needs medical care, they are dependent on you.

If you just want advice on keeping the next doomed frog warm, ceramic heat emitter in a dome, connected to a hyrgotherm. Smaller terrariums are easier to keep warm, cover most of the top with something that will insulate to retain more of the heat, add a stick on heater to the side of the tank if necessary. Read the care sheet thoroughly, all this advice is clearly stated there and in multiple other posts.

If we didn't want anyone to ask questions and ask for advice, this wouldn't be a "forum," only a care sheet site. There are multiple ways to do things and getting advice from experienced keepers can help figure out frog care "on a budget," so to speak. Many people have raised frogs without a $70 hydrotherm or reptifogger. It just requires more careful observation, not setting them somewhere and expecting everything to run perfectly (which it doesn't always, even with that equipment and then there are threads regarding how to help the frog and/or what to do after the equipment fails.) I hand mist all my tanks, and before I got my thermostat, I kept a very close eye on my thermometers and raised or dimmed my dome lamp accordingly. Even with the thermostat, I keep a very close eye on my thermometers, it hasn't saved me a whole lot of hassle vs doing it the other way except I stress less if I'm going to be gone a day or two.

[Elliriyanna]

Thank you, I am actually not new to reptiles, I check all my tanks, cages and even the cat and dog several times a day. Making sure filters are running properly, water bowls are full and clean, Temps are correct, For my boy with shell rot ( I adopted him from a rescue this way) making sure he gets his extra vitamin E to help with his healing, checking temps. I am in childcare and usually home so for me personally hand monitoring everything is not a big deal.

Wow I feel dumb, Yes I know frogs are amphibians, I am also posting on another forum and got mixed up. I am not new to amphibians, So misting, monitoring, dechlorinating etc. No big deal.

[DVirginiana]

Honestly, it kind of sounds like you know what you need to do and you're just getting other opinions to back that up since you feel bad about losing the first one (nothing wrong with that). If you're not confident in your ability to keep the temps on point, then try what Lija suggested and keep the tank at the correct temp and humidity for awhile before getting a frog to go in it. I've found that wrapping about half the cage top in cling wrap keeps humidity up even with higher temps.

As for misting, I have a WTF that I mist with a spray bottle, and a hydrotherm for my pacman frog. Both are doing fine.

It sounds like you have a lot of animals that are happy in the 80-85 degree range. Another option for you would be to get a space heater for the room, and keep the ambient temp around 80. That's what I do, and it's so much easier than worrying about a dozen different heating apparatus.

[LilyPad]

It sounds like you have a lot of animals that are happy in the 80-85 degree range. Another option for you would be to get a space heater for the room, and keep the ambient temp around 80. That's what I do, and it's so much easier than worrying about a dozen different heating apparatus.

If I had multiple tanks in one room, that's totally what I would do. Seems so much easier!

[Elliriyanna]

Actually the turtles need around 74 degrees( ambient room temp so their water doesn't get too hot, I have a heater but cooling water is harder) , Rats like about the same. My turtles are in the living room, The frog will be and the rats are in my bedroom. I really wish it was as simple as a pet room. That would be a wonderful idea if they were all in the same room. Just set it to 75 and call it a day, and I would have a room I could actually be warm in !!!

I should mention I am ordering all supplies next week but will not be getting an animal for at least a month, So this gives me plenty of time to get the temps right. Thank goodness the breeder is only an hour north of me and have a great reputation.

Maybe I should mention what all I do have ... Because its probably not as much as it sounds.
- 4 rats, a neutered male and 3 females
- a 1 year old terrier mix
- a 3 year old cat
- 3 turtles, 2 maps and a painted ( split between two tanks)

and that's it ... I mean it sounds like a lot but its two tanks , a cage and two free roam pets.

Thanks to those who are being understanding, I just don't want to mess up again. I am not above saying I made a mistake, but I will not make the same mistake and harm an animal again, Especially when its so simple to just ask.

[DVirginiana]

I mean it sounds like a lot

Hahahaha... No, I don't think it's a lot of reptiles until friends and family who don't keep reptiles start asking if you have a hoarding problem.

[Elliriyanna]

at 2 rats they called me a hoarder lol.

[Lija]

YOU asked for an opinion from the forum, I gave mine. Based on your defensiveness of my intentionally ambiguous statements, obviously I struck a chord. Your interpretation of what I was saying tells me a lot about you, and most of it is bad in terms of you owning a pet. If you are unwilling to drop $70 on a hygrotherm and about that much more on a reptifogger, how can you be expected to take your little friend to a vet if he needs medical care, they are dependent on you.

If you just want advice on keeping the next doomed frog warm, ceramic heat emitter in a dome, connected to a hyrgotherm. Smaller terrariums are easier to keep warm, cover most of the top with something that will insulate to retain more of the heat, add a stick on heater to the side of the tank if necessary. Read the care sheet thoroughly, all this advice is clearly stated there and in multiple other posts.

While everyone's opinions are welcome you have to tone it down. Consider this a warning. I very strongly suggest to review Frog Forum - FrogForum Terms of Use (Rules) before posting any further.

This is not the place to attack people like you do, this is friendly place to come, to ask for advise and help people.
Not everybody have money for hydroterm, that thing as well as a fogger is nice to have, however not a nessesity.

Yes pets are dependant on us and yes you have to think before you get one on all aspects, including financial. I'm sure Elli knows that and the fact that she asked first before getting a new guy shows how much she learned from what had happened and how responsibly she is looking into the matter. It is also my understanding she hadn't desided if she is getting a new one yet and she wants to ensure husbandry is spot on ahead of time.

It is not what happened defines us, mistakes do happen to all of us and looking back you wish you could have done things differently. you deal with it, you learn from it and go forward differently.

[Lija]

at 2 rats they called me a hoarder lol.

Mhahahaha im trying not to think what they'd call. Me. The last we counted we stoped at 60, that's not counting eggs lol