Looking into Pacman frogs

[pacsack]

Hey there! I think you could shave a lot of money off that list. For starters don't go to a mainstream pet store first they really will charge you $10 for a mister but walmart it will be only a few dollars. I understand it being your first pac you may want to have a more aesthetic setup but pacman frogs can do just fine with a minimalistic setup. Many breeders do not even keep their pacs in terrariums but in rubbermade containers which is perfectly acceptable. As for a shelter its not really needed as long as you have a deep bedding of ecoearth. I like having a broad leafed fake plant that will provide good amount of top cover so that the pacs can hide under the leaves. I personaly feel that the pacs will feel a lot safer if they have a fake plant for top cover this will only cost you about $10. An undertank heater is strictly dependent on your house temp. As for lighting you wont need anything fancy I recommend getting a electrical timer from home depot that will run you only about $5 for a cheap one I set mine for a 12/12 photo period. You will need to get a calcium powder WITH d3 that will run about $7. For cleaning you can just spot clean as you see poop appear most of the time it will be in the water bowl, ontop of the bedding or in a old burrow. Cleaning your bedding out depends on the frog and how well you spot clean depending on how much bedding you put in you could keep it in for 2 months or so poop may not build up but ammonia will. As for feeding insects should be the staple with a pinky/fuzy according to frog size every few months or more frequent to add on weight if necessary. If you have anymore questions let me know I know this is a pretty big wall of text so I will leave it here for now hehe!

[MeTree]

Hey there! I think you could shave a lot of money off that list. For starters don't go to a mainstream pet store first they really will charge you $10 for a mister but walmart it will be only a few dollars. I understand it being your first pac you may want to have a more aesthetic setup but pacman frogs can do just fine with a minimalistic setup. Many breeders do not even keep their pacs in terrariums but in rubbermade containers which is perfectly acceptable. As for a shelter its not really needed as long as you have a deep bedding of ecoearth. I like having a broad leafed fake plant that will provide good amount of top cover so that the pacs can hide under the leaves. I personaly feel that the pacs will feel a lot safer if they have a fake plant for top cover this will only cost you about $10. An undertank heater is strictly dependent on your house temp. As for lighting you wont need anything fancy I recommend getting a electrical timer from home depot that will run you only about $5 for a cheap one I set mine for a 12/12 photo period. You will need to get a calcium powder WITH d3 that will run about $7. For cleaning you can just spot clean as you see poop appear most of the time it will be in the water bowl, ontop of the bedding or in a old burrow. Cleaning your bedding out depends on the frog and how well you spot clean depending on how much bedding you put in you could keep it in for 2 months or so poop may not build up but ammonia will. As for feeding insects should be the staple with a pinky/fuzy according to frog size every few months or more frequent to add on weight if necessary. If you have anymore questions let me know I know this is a pretty big wall of text so I will leave it here for now hehe!

Thank you for the post! I really appreciate it!

I can get a mister at Walmart for afew dollars? Does Walmart have a reptile section? Is it packaged as a "reptile/amphibian mister"? Can you refil a mister after you use all that is bought from the store?

A critter keeper is just abit less than a 10g tank. I think the Critter keepers at Walmart are abit small, so I might try to start out with a 10g tank. Do I need a screen? I have heard conflicting information on weather or not they can just out of a 10g tank.

I guess for heat I could moniter the temp of my house. I think the cold wheather is pretty much over here in East Texas, so I may not need a heater right now?

I knew there was some kind of vitamin D in the mix, but I wasn't sure what the number was, and I didn't want to post something incorrectly.

Is 2" of eco-complete Ok? I was wondering how they burrow if the water is at there feet? Do I need to make the water at their toes, so when they burrow they wont drown?

I will see if I can find a cheap lamp/fixture at Walmart. Could that wait for afew months, though? I don't want to hurt the frog any, but I am just curious what corners I can cut without damaging the picture (budget is a little bit smaller than I originally estimated. Not too short, I just want to have emergency money for the frog in case something happends).

I think I will get the essetials before I get the frog, then maybe add stuff a couple weeks later, like a fake plant and stuff. Speaking of fake plants, are there real plants that would work in the shallow water of the terrarium? Maybe something I could find at Petsmart, but it doesn't have to be at Petsmart.

I am still curious where people get there frogs. I don't want to pay $40 in shipping, so maybe I can get a green pacman special ordered from my LPS. I know my LPS charges abit, but it probably isn't $65 as it would be off the internet after I pay shipping and handling. Still, anyone want to post where they got their pacman(s) from?

I think that is all for now. I will probably think of something later.

Thanks for all your help so far!

[bshmerlie]

I know you're asking about Pacmans but have you checked out firebelly toads? They are very cheap...you can get them at almost any petstore or retile store for under $10 that way you wouldn't have to worry about shipping. They are also very active and outgoing unlike the Pacman frogs. They do well in pairs or small groups and won't try to eat each other. They don't require any special heating or anything like that and are probably the hardiest frogs out there. Go to YouTube and check them out. They are quite the party animals and make great first frogs. Although they don't eat as large of food items as Pacmans they are like sharks at a pool party when it comes to eating. They are a lot of fun. You could easily stay within your budget with them and you could pick them up locally.

[MeTree]

I know you're asking about Pacmans but have you checked out firebelly toads? They are very cheap...you can get them at almost any petstore or retile store for under $10 that way you wouldn't have to worry about shipping. They are also very active and outgoing unlike the Pacman frogs. They do well in pairs or small groups and won't try to eat each other. They don't require any special heating or anything like that and are probably the hardiest frogs out there. Go to YouTube and check them out. They are quite the party animals and make great first frogs. Although they don't eat as large of food items as Pacmans they are like sharks at a pool party when it comes to eating. They are a lot of fun. You could easily stay within your budget with them and you could pick them up locally.

Well, um...I don't know. Its tempting, but I have really grown attached to the idea of having a Pacman. You said that fire-belly toads are alot cheaper? What kind of supplies would they need to get started? Can't make any promises until the day I go to get supplies for the frog I choose, but I don't have alot of time to research other animals, and I just want to know the cost, and a little bit about the FBT.

Thanks!

(I haven't given up on Pacmans yet)

[bshmerlie]

You can get FBT for$ 6 at petsmart. Get at least two they like company. They can go into a ten gallon. They love water so get the largest bowl you can with a ramp. Or do a 50-50 set up and slope the land section. Get some plants like pothos to make the tank look nice. You can get it at walmart for five bucks. The tank must have a locking lid. You don't have to worry about humidity as they play in the water often. They can be kept at room temp. No frog is easier and they will always be visible. Best first frog. I started with them myself and they are still a favorite.

[pacsack]

Well for starter you don't need a critter keeper to or even a 10gallon to keep your frog in you can keep him in a regular plastic bin from walmart. This actually has some advantages such as humidity control, one of the problems that terrariums have is that the screen tops don't hold in humidity. If you get a 10 gallon you should get some sort of non-screen cover such as a glass or plastic top careful with the plastic top though they might melt, I made one of my own I cut a piece of glass I bought from home depot for only about $10 and its really not that hard to do. and as for a mister you don't need anything special just a regular run of the mill spray bottle. As for where to get your frog you should def buy one locally most online frogs you will pay more than $60 for no matter what just because overnight shipping is a must. Chances are if you get a cranwelli it will lose its color as it reaches maturity and end up a mottled brown. If you want a frog that holds its color well into adulthood you need to get a Ornata or "Fantasy frog" which is a hybrid cross between Cornuta and Cranwelli but they hold bright colors and patterns into adulthood. I recommend you just go with a simple Cranwelli you can get for no more than $15 from a local pet store just make sure he is healthy. Once you get a little more experienced with the less expensive frog and you find out if its truly you then you can make the commitment to buy a more expensive frog. Most of all I advice you to read as MUCH literature and old posts in this forum as you can you will find a wealth of information and it will make you a MUCH better owner. Never be afraid to ask though I never was and I think I turned out to be a pretty good frog care taker hehe!

[MeTree]

Ok, I am pretty sure I am going to start with a pacman. I am selling my used 55g tank (I bought it used (no leaks), but I have never put fish in it) to my brother for his goldfish. Now I have all I need to purchase the supplies I need!

So the green cranwelli (did I spell that right?) will lose their color? Turn brown? Oh well, not prefered but it will work.

I am looking at some products I want to order (if I get it this soon, I'll get free shipping) and I was wondering what you guys think about these...

Thermometer/Hygrometer combo: will this work?
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=690481

mister: will this work?
http://www.petco.com/product/7337/PE...umidityControl

Which one of these "eco-earth" products is best?
http://www.petco.com/product/104906/...ogHPSubstrates
or
http://www.petco.com/product/10813/Z...ogHPSubstrates
or is there a better product you can recomend? I just suggested eco-earth because I have a buddy (on a fish forum) that has pacman frogs and he uses some kind of eco-earth, but I don't know which kind. PLEASE make suggestions! Thank you!

I am really forgetful, but is there anything I need to get started other than a feeding dish, a cover (I am thinking maybe plexiglass?), and the 10g tank itself? I doubt it will get cold here in Texas. I'd probably need a chiller, jk. Anyway, I can get the crickets and the setup the day before I get the frog.

Has anyone ever seen a green pacman at a Petsmart/Petco? I am wondering if I need to go through the trouble of asking my LPS to order a frog.

I also want to look into a cricket habitat (for growing and breeding crickets) later.

Thanks guys!