Red heat lamp - is this normal?

[DaisyMaisy]

Total newb question here! I'm setting up a vertical 20 gallon tank for White's Tree Frogs. No frogs yet, still in the figuring all this out phase. I have a day light lamp that keeps a nice temperature of about 80-82 degrees right below it, down to about 70 degrees way at the bottom of the tank. So I think I'm ok temp wise for daytime. I have a heat lamp for nighttime that actually keeps things a bit warmer, about 85-86 degrees right next to it but I figure the frogs can move down away from it. (correct me if I'm wrong though please! )

Here's the problem: is the night heat lamp supposed to put out such a bright red unearthly glow?? The whole room is red and the tank isn't dark at all, but bright red! Is this normal? Do the frogs need it darker, and will it be a problem if the temp does not drop down at night?

Thank you for any advice!

[elly]

I've read on the forum about a frog that was seemingly disturbed by a bright red light and attempted to escape when it was on resulting in a bad nose-rub problem. That may not happen though.

Why do you need the red light at night? Is it because your overall room temperature drops?

[DaisyMaisy]

Thanks for the response! Yes, the room gets to about 68. I think I could keep the tank at about 70, but I wasn't sure if that would be too low for the frogs. I can see how the red glow would bother the frogs - it bothers me anyway! I will keep fiddling around and possibly try a UTH.

[elly]

Most of the heat gets blocked out by the substrate with undertank heaters, at least in the experience of some people on this forum. You could try a ceramic heat emitter or a space heater?

Edit: Heat emitters might be a little more expensive than bulbs, but they don't seem to burn out as quickly. I had a purple "moonlight" bulb that wasn't too bright, but it burned out the night after I bought it.

[Frogger00]

The night bulbs are supposed to be red. The light is only visible to us, but shouldn't be visible to reptiles or amphibians. They are red to aid in night time viewing. It shouldn't bother the frogs, I use one and my frogs are fine. But if it does bother you, ceramic heat emitters like Elly said only put off heat, no light.


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[DaisyMaisy]

I've seen those ceramic heat emitters at the pet store - I will check them out. That's interesting about the red light not being visible to amphibians. It could be fun to have the red light on since they are nocturnal. Thanks for the help!

[Frogger00]

I've seen those ceramic heat emitters at the pet store - I will check them out. That's interesting about the red light not being visible to amphibians. It could be fun to have the red light on since they are nocturnal. Thanks for the help!

Yeah from my understanding that's basically what the red bulbs are for, nighttime viewing. And also if you decide to to buy a ceramic heater, I suggest buying them online from Amazon because you will save 20$.


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[DigitalPunk]

The Ceramic heat emitters are awesome, but on a 20g converted to vertical you wont want to use them. The heat can and will crack the glass on the top of the tank. Now if your converted 20L has a screen in the top section above the door than you could mount the CHE so it is pointing at that and radiate heat into the tank through the screen.

I never liked using any nightime lights with nocturnal frogs. My Reds all ways seemed to be bothered by the red glow.

[elly]

Yeah, what Paul said. Don't crack your tank.

I've heard that red isn't visible to frogs, but I imagine they can probably see the brightness of it anyway even if it's in gray tones. Some frogs are obviously not bothered by it though.

[Frogger00]

Yeah, what Paul said. Don't crack your tank.

I've heard that red isn't visible to frogs, but I imagine they can probably see the brightness of it anyway even if it's in gray tones. Some frogs are obviously not bothered by it though.

Ah yes I never thought about the brightness of it.


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