Trying to heat a Viv

[preachinzoogal]

I am new to frog caretaking, but all of my research suggested that for a Giant Pixie Frog all I would need for my 15 gallon tank would be a medium heat mat on the side of the vivarium. I have the heat mat placed on the shorter end of the glass vivarium (it had previously housed fish many many years ago). Inside I am using a coconut fiber substrate on half of the viv and a plastic water tub on the other half. The heating pad is on the end away from the water. It does not seem to be affecting the ambient temperature inside at all, and while it is warm to my touch, it certainly isn't hot. I tend to keep my house in the mid 60's in the winter. Could I have a faulty heat mat or do I need to look into some other form of heating. I have covered the top (my frog hasn't arrived yet) and that doesn't seem to help with increasing the temp either...

[deranged chipmunk]

i don't keep bullfrogs, but from what you are describing, the heat mat is too small. honestly, i think those things are useless for heating a frog tank. you may be better off using a ceramic heat emitter instead. they don't give off any light, just heat. they are a much better option.

you may also want to post your question here: African Bullfrogs that way, other pyxie owners can chime in

[monster]

I also don't keep bullfrogs but I do keep pacmans and yes the UTH is probably to small. I have a 10 gallon that I had to put a 10-20 on the side and 30-40 on the back hooked up to dimmer. And I also had to build a box around the 3 sides to keep the heat in. And with all that I can only get a daytime of 84f. If you can get a fogger system or make your own to keep humidity up I would go with a heat lamp. The only reason I have kept my the way it is because then I don't feel like I wasted money and time for nothing. But my next purchase will be getting a fogger and lights. OH and hes albino that's another reason I stuck with the UTH's.