Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Temperature Difference

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Nationality
    [United Kingdom]
    Location
    Southampton
    Posts
    2

    Default Temperature Difference

    Hi, I am preparing a vivarium in which I intend to keep Fire Bellied Toads, but I am having many problems trying to get the temperature right. I have a heat mat attached to one side, and a heat cable underneath the substrate. I am getting temperatures of 21-25 or so degrees (Celsius), which is fine, but when I move the temperature probe up slightly, I get a radical drop of between 8 and 10 degrees. Does anyone have any advice on how I can bring the air temperature up in there? As I don't want to discover toads with fire on their bellies and ice on their backs! Also, there is a large bowl where I intend to keep their water, would this need to be warmed up and if so what sort of temperature will it need to be?

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many
     

  3. #2
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    Water temp is much easier to control and maintain a stable temperature, IMO, than air temp. So if your viv is constructed with a false bottom or drainage layer technique, then the thermal mass of the water will add considerable stability to your air temperature. Stability is more important all around, again IMO, than a particular temp. Though I don't think a gradual change in temp over the changing seasons is a bad thing.

    And your FBT's will enjoy the extra water to lounge in.

    I wouldn't sweat the low temps for FBT's though. They are cold-blooded from most of the stuff I've read. In their natural habitat it is said they burrow into soft mud and remain there till things warm up. And soil temps easily remain below 14C in the winter time in the places FBT's come from. Also I've read that breeders sometimes put the females in a refrigerator for a week to get them in the mood to produce eggs.

    As for your question, while reading it I was wondering.........What size is the viv? Is the viv in a temperature controlled area? If so, what are the ambient temps there?

  4. #3
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    Here is a link to a care article on FBT's. I think it's the one that the stickie in this sub-forum is supposed to point to, but no one has fixed the broken link.

    http://www.frogforum.net/content.php?r=123-Fire-Bellied-Toad-Care-and-Breeding-Bombina-orientalis-and-relatives

    It's fairly informative. The only big disagreement I have with the article is that they state there is no proven benefit to UVB and FBT's. However in a very active discussion I had with several members over a year ago, someone posted some actual links to research that does show UVB being beneficial. Luckily, my lighting was providing some UVB and since I've increased the UVB slightly they seem even better in color and overall health, though I'm not remotely qualified to truly assess their health or the cause of it.

  5. #4
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Nationality
    [United Kingdom]
    Location
    Scotland
    Age
    27
    Posts
    1,134
    Blog Entries
    1
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    That caresheet... twice weekly feeding and 6 toads in a 10-gallon? Hmm, I'm afraid I don't like caresheet at all.

    These ones are good:
    http://www.amphibian.co.uk/bombina.html
    http://amphibiancare.com/2008/03/21/fire-bellied-toad/

  6. #5
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Nationality
    [United Kingdom]
    Location
    Scotland
    Age
    27
    Posts
    1,134
    Blog Entries
    1
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    Heat mats are innapropriate for fire-bellied toads, since these guys spend most time on water and more likely to bask when on land. They should be kept in an aqua-terrarium, with slightly more water than land, so the water temperature is important. You can control temps with an aquarium heater and offer a basking site to them on the land with a low-wattage spotlight.

  7. #6
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    Considering that most of us like a viv with all sorts of "features" in it for a pleasing visual effect and to sooth our conscience that we are providing well for the care of of pet, I'll agree that six FBT's in a standard dimension 10 gallon viv is probably too many. But if the viv is mostly water with a small island then maybe six isn't too many. After all, look at how they keep them at the pet store. Not the prettiest, but they live there. But the article still gives decent information and it prompted you and hopefully others to add some more links.

  8. This member thanks privet01 for this post:


  9. #7
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Nationality
    [United Kingdom]
    Location
    Scotland
    Age
    27
    Posts
    1,134
    Blog Entries
    1
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    Pet store conditions are temporary and usually simple for routine maintenance to prevent bacteria build up of overstocking. I would never keep an animal in those settings for long. A 10-gallon pushes 4 frogs at most.

  10. This member thanks jasonm96 for this post:


  11. #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Nationality
    [United Kingdom]
    Location
    Southampton
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Temperature Difference

    Thanks for the help, I've been busy sorting out a few things with it, and I have now achieved a better temperature for them.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Size difference
    By Sj111296 in forum Tree Frogs
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: June 26th, 2015, 01:24 PM
  2. New WTF size difference?
    By Rainrad2002 in forum Tree Frogs
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: March 31st, 2015, 04:18 AM
  3. Difference Between WC and CB Firebellies
    By CinnamonPearl in forum Fire Belly Toads (Bombina)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: September 7th, 2013, 08:00 PM
  4. is there a difference...
    By Tree frog maniac in forum Tree Frogs
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: July 29th, 2013, 12:36 PM
  5. difference between roaches
    By sajane in forum Food, Feeders, Live, Frozen, Culturing, etc
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: June 13th, 2012, 02:40 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •