UV

[Meatball]

Through the winter it is going to get pretty cold for my pixie to be comfortable. I have a heating pad attached to the side of the tank, and a plexiglass top (with a few holes drilled in the top for air) to keep in moisture and heat. However, i dont think that it will be enough. Is having a UV bulb above the tank a good idea? Or can the rays be harmful to my pixie?

I have a night bulb that I use for my bearded dragons (its a purple bulb, 75 watts) and was wondering if it would be ok to put above my pixie's tank. The tank is a 20g long and I would only have the light at one end of the tank (the area where he doesn't usually sit).

[Julia]

Are you referring to UVA or UVB?

UVB puts out very little heat. I doubt it would damage your frog in any way...might actually be good for him as long as you don't use one as strong as a 10.0!

UVA found in regular incandescent light bulbs again is not harmful but will produce a lot of heat. This could be a problem if it dries out your substrate.

If you must use a nightlight then black/purple are best because frogs can see the red lights.

Honestly I think heat pads attached to the side of the tank are the safest form of heating a frog enclosure...maybe add a second one for additional heat?

[Meatball]

Well it must be a UVA that I have because it gets very hot (I wasn't sure because I threw out the package). But Ive had it over the end of my pixies tank where I have his large dish for about 3 hours now, and honestly he looks very happy. Its been getting colder in my apartment the past few days and he was more buried and looked less active (if thats possible for a frog lol). After having this over his tank for only a few hours he looks wide awake and really healthy. And I tend to mist and throw some water on the substrate daily if I see it drying out so I dont think that should be much of a problem, if it is I can always turn it off for a few hours.

[1beataway]

I have had UVA light bulbs on tanks before (and still have them on a couple), and I have never had a problem with it getting too hot or the soil drying out. I think you'll be fine, and your frog will be happy.

[Meatball]

Well there is one problem, i put the lamp on top of the plexiglass and it got warped ... hmm

[1beataway]

Oh no!

I totally didn't think of the plexi glass. I'm sorry.