New White's Set up

[bshmerlie]

There's a lot of conflicting information out there because Whites are pretty hardy frogs and people have been successful at keeping them at different ranges. The most important thing is to keep an eye on your frogs behaviors. If they are active, eating properly, pooping normally then you are doing well. The reasons for keeping them a bit warmer is that it helps them to digest food better and also sometimes whites will turn brown if they are cold. I have never used heat lamps because I was always worried about drying out the tank too much and some people have had the frogs get burned by being too close to it. Although there are others that do use them with no problems. During the winter I just have an additional heat mat mounted to the side of the tank and it will bring itup a few degrees more. I then take it off during the summer. Water bowls are fine just make sure each one has his own bowl and clean out the bowl each day. You should probably add a drainage layer of Leca below the soil just as Elaine suggested with the screen and everything. This willl help the plants roots stay healthy. Don't overwater them just keep the soil moist. They are great frogs have fun with them.

[winterwolfes]

I just took at a look and the side that I have a heating pad mounted on is at about 71. The side without the pad is down at like 68. I was thinking that about getting an additional pad and mounting it on the 68 side.

But if the pad I have on there already only raised the temp about 4 degrees from my house temp is another heating pad really going to be able to raise it another 15 degrees? The other part of this is that right now I just have my old fish tank lid on there. I cut out the back 3 inches and attached screening to it but I doubt that provides enough ventilation. So I am going to go out tonight to buy a screen top and open it up. However, with it barely holding any temp now with the one heatind pad, I am wondering if another one will really help or if I need to go with the light while the temps in my house are just under 70 for the winter.

The things I've read about heating lamps drying the tank our or burning the frogs concerns me. But I'm wondering if during the winter I need to have one.

[bshmerlie]

Tim you said your house is at 68-69 degrees and your first mat brought you to 72 degrees. If you add another mat that will bring you up to probably about 76-77 degrees maybe slightly higher. I think you'd be fine with that. If you wanted you could simply raise your house temp by 1 degree and you could be at 78 degrees inside the tank. I don't think anyone's going to argue with that as your winter temp. As far as the top goes. I would defineatly get rid of the aquarium top simply because frogs have an amazing ability to escape things that we think we've made so secure. If you get a full screen top get a piece of glass cut at Lowe's or a glass shop (Lowes cuts for free) to cover half the top. Some people use plastic wrap as a simple solution or acrylic sheets. Also good lighting could help keep the temp up during the day. Again don't be so concerned about hitting a magic number. Its more important to watch their behaviors. The thing is when you're new its hard to know what exactly is their normal behaviors. Just take the time to get to know your frogs and they will let you know when they are unhappy.

[winterwolfes]

Last night I bought another heating pad. I have 2 6X8 pads now. Both set up on the same side of the tank. One is just abover the other so they cover almost that entire half of the tank. I also bought a digital thermometer. I measured the temp outside the tank and it was 69. Inside it was 74 on the side with the heaters. So having 2 heating pads raised the temp 5 degrees. I thought it would have done more. I did also put a screen top on so that definitely factors in with the heat loss. But I covered the side with the heaters in cellophane until I can get some glass cut this weekend.

The original heating pad I bought is buzzing and is not as warm as the one I bought last night. I wonder if there is a short in it? Which would be annoying since I just bought it on Saturday and I do not have the packaging or reciept.

I'm going to replace it and see if that helps. If not, I may go with a low wattage light as well during the winter. I'd feel more comfortable with a temp around 80.

I took some pictures last night of my frogs and the terrarium and will put them in my album today.

[Leefrogs]

temps are trickey. I have a vertical bamboo hide in warm corner with fake orchid with lots of leaves. In that corner is where I kinda concentrate my heat. Although I have a uth under water bowls that doesn't do much, opposite side. I used rock in that spot and it exadurated heat a bit, like raidiant heating to 80, just on rocks. I have 2.0 full spectrum hood. And a basking lamp at 50 watts. Note these rays are blocked by leaves of plant, but temp at top of leaves is 85, it's kinda angled in corner of glass, glass temp gets up to 90 and they love it. They could go lower if they didn't. When I shut the basking off before lights out ambient temp( opposite side) drops 5 degrees. My ambient takes till noon to get up to 80, the floor of viv usually at 75. So basking lights can dry them out, but if they have shade it stops being sun burnt. Both full spectrum and grow light baught at Walmart. Petshops over price same items. I heard lights can hurt frog eyes and u should run them for a week before using. Since I had run my tank for a month before getting them, I think I'm safe. But is this lighting myth?