Update on pacman frog that wouldn`t burrow :) Also a question about heating

[PsykotikLovbyrd]

So I had posted a while ago about my little guy not wanting to burrow and following some suggestions given here he seems much happier Yesterday I actually cleaned out his tank and switched him over to eco earth. This morning when I woke up I had this moment of panic that he had gotten out of his enclosure somehow, until I saw a little red eye poking up from the substrate. So that is a win He is also eating really well and REALLY likes his nightcrawlers. I have gotten him to eat dubia but he doesn`t seem all that fond of him. The person I got him from was only feeding him pinky mice, so I was worried he would never see anything else as food but hunger won out. He has about doubled in size since I got him!

So....now for the question.....

My room stays pretty warm during the summer, so because of that I have not been using supplemental heat. However, winter is coming up so I know that will change. He is in a 2.5 gallon tank right now (he is still a baby, I am thinking he should be moved to a 5 gallon soon though). I am worried about using a heat pad or light or anything because his enclosure is small enough that it would heat the whole thing. Also there is a lot of conflicting information about heating for these guys. Some say heat pads are to hot, some say lights will kill the humidity, and some say you shouldn`t use heat pads because the frogs burrow to get cooler. Sooooo.....suggestions?

[monster]

Hey, so glad to hear he is doing better. That's always nice to hear. IMO I wouldn't waste the money at the moment for a heat pad because at the rate they grow you would have to keep peeling it off to put on his new enclosure and after doing this there is great chance you could damage the inside of the matt, which could equal a serious fire hazard. I would buy a 40 watt red bulb and and one of those adjustable stands and have the light suspended over just one half of the tank since its a small tank and that way you will still have some kind of temp gradient. And doing it this way till he gets bigger and is put in his permanent home will be a lot easier and cost efficient for ya when changing tank sizes. Again so glad hes doing better for you.

[PsykotikLovbyrd]

Thank you so much for the information! I actually just had an issue with a UTH that had been peeled off the tank it was heating and I think it must have been broken or something. It busted the glass! Fortunately my snake was alright, but it kind of scared me needless to say! Thanks for the awesome info though! I was wondering about a heat lamp just for now since he is growing so fast. Then I was worried because he is albino so his eyes are pink and more light sensitive. Which kind of brings up another question.....I am going to college and I am attending night classes. When I come home at night I turn on the light in my room and I have noticed his pupils are really wide (obviously because it is dark before I get home). Since I noticed that I have been just turning on a small light next to my bed instead of my main room light. Is that a good idea so as not to blind him?

[monster]

Usually when they are awake when its dark there pupils will always look huge. That's what I love about the albinos, when they are awake there big red eyes make them look so much meaner. L.O.L. The light from the ceiling shouldn't hurt his eyes, this is what I use for lighting for my albino and her eye sight is fine so you turning on the light shouldn't blind him. But the little desk lamp is probably better due to it being a lot dimmer and with it being night for him and having it dark then really bright from the ceiling light and then dark again might kind of confuse him to when its supposed to be day and night if you have to have the light on for extended periods of time. If its possible I would try to put him somewhere he can get a full 12hrs day and night cycle but if you cant and the desk lamp isn't on for a long time he should fine.

[jasonm96]

2.5 gallon is a bit small, doesn't allow for a good thermal gradient so wouldn't recommend a heat lamp. If I were you I'd just go straight for a 10g and forget the smaller tanks. A 40w infrared as mentioned should be enough for that size or a heat mat that covers half the wall. If you have problems with humidity use a layer of sphagnum moss (not green moss!) but make sure he does not eat any of it, you can feed crickets by tongs and worms in dish.

[PsykotikLovbyrd]

Oh yes he LOVES his worms! And he is eating from a tong so from what I understand that means I can feed him a larger variety of stuff like canned bugs and snails When he is bigger anyway. Right now he is pretty tiny, only about two inches or so. He is growing really fast though, so it may not be a bad idea just to go for a ten gallon.

Is green moss okay? I tend to use that a lot because of the color and I like the smell. If it is harmful to him though I will stop using it.