Looking into Pacman frogs

[MeTree]

Personally I have an under tank heater on the bottom to one side of the tank, opposite of the water bowl. I have a 2-3" layer of eco-Earth substrate that I mist frequently throughout the day since I'm home. I have a good-sized fake plant in the middle that spreads so Choji can hide under it if he wants. I personally don't have water throughout the tank, but that's just me.

Sounds like a good plan. I have seen Youtube vids of people who have damp substrate with an under-tank heater. I am guessing that as long as my substrate is deep enough (maybe 3-4") to keep dry at the bottom I wont have to worry about glass bending? I am still wondering about the under-tank heaters because it has been said that they raise the temp about 10 degrees, and I am wondering if there is a chance that if the temp in my room is warm (in Texas) if the heater would actually overheat the tank?

Still haven't heard back from the LPS, but I will go up there soon to get the mystery snails I need, then I will ask about when the pacmans are expected to come (the manager said sometime early summer, but the manager would try to find out a more specific date than that). Until then, I want to mostly setup the tank so that I can pick up the frog at a moments notice (so I don't have to plan an emergency trip to my distant Petsmart to pick up the supplies and risk someone else buying the pacman).

Thanks guys! I think I sould be able to have everything ready by the time the pacman is ordered. I still have afew more questions about substrate, though.

Thanks!

[MeTree]

(Sorry for the double post. I had to post my last one and then leave, but now I am back. I know that if I started editing, by the time I finished it would be past the edit time and I would have to start over. Please view the post above (^) if you have not yet viewed it. Thanks!)

As posted above, I need to setup my tank pretty soon. Hopefully I can get the supplies next time I go way out in that direction, hopefully not on an emergency trip planned last minute because I get the call that the green cranwellis have arived. I must prepare for that moment, though, if it should come. Here is a (short) list of the supplies I have;

mister

Pretty short. Here is a list (from what I can remember) of the supplies I don't have;

tank
covering (optional?)
substrate
cricket breeder (optional)
hygrometer
thermometer
undertank heater (optional until fall)
water bowl
hiding decor such as cave and/or plant
Water treatment

I will cover the topics in order so I don't forget a bunch of things.

First of all, the tank probably wont be a problem. I used to see them at walmart for $13, but I haven't seen them in stock at my walmart. Anyone seen an empty 10g at walmart this week? I might just get it at my LFS (for more than at walmart) or at Petsmart.

Covering; optional? I have heard of people using screens, plastic, light fixtures, etc. I know that a covering would help keep in the humidity, but what kind of cover should I get? Would plexiglass (the plastic-like unbreakable stuff) with a bunch of holes drilled into it work? I am not sure if the plexi would allow enough ventilation for the pacman, considering (if you include substrate) that it would be 9" to the floor of the tank. I have heard screen is Ok, good ventilation, but I would think that alot of humidity would escape. I have heard from several sources that it is Ok to not even put a top on (because pacman can't jump?), but I imagine I would have to mist multiple times daily, and that a diferent covering would pay off.

Substrate; I know that alot of people recomend eco-earth for pacman, but I have seen that there are multiple types (at least 3 or 4) of eco-earth. I am wondering if this would work. I have read alot of reviews the Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Fiber Substrate from Petco.com (http://www.petco.com/product/104906/...ogHPSubstrates) and this substrate seems to be suitable for a pacman frog tank. Here are some lines I have taken from the comments;

"great substrate for herps that require higher humidity levels...."

"....smells good, easy to clean, and holds moisture well without mold formation."

"....I have....in a 20 gallon tank and they LOVE this stuff. It is quite messy until it all becomes moist (sticking to their bodies) but once it is properly hydrated, it is awesome!"

"....It's loose enough for them to easily dig, but still holds together well so their burrows remain intact."

So basically from the comments I have gathered that it wont mold, it hold humidity, and a pacman can burrow in it. Is this the eco-earth that alot of you guys use? Would this substrate work for my pacman? I would recomend, just to reduce confusion, that when telling newbies about eco-earth, just to make sure to tell them which kind. I am NOT trying to scold or embaress you guys in ANY way, I am just making sure you all know that there is more than one kind of eco-earth, and hopefully that will stop alot of confusion. Best intentions meant.

Nextly (if that is a word lol)...actually I think I will skip talking about a cricket breeder on this post. If you want to make suggestions here that is fine, but I will probably open another thread for that.

Hygrometer; I am new to hygrometers, but I think I now most of what I need to know about them. I have never needed a hygrometer, because my pets right now are always at a humidity of 100% (lol fish). Do hygrometers give a constant, accurate reading (kind of like a thermometer, and not like a noraml hydrometer where you have to make a measurement everytime you want to know the levels of salinity)? If it says "hygrometer" it will work, right? Maybe even if it doesn't (assuming it identifies it's unit of measure as humidity)? I just wanted to know if there were any bad brands that wouldn't work. I guess I could probably buy one of these things for somewhere between $4-9?

Thermometer; Hmm. What about those aquarium thermometers that walmart sells for $1.69? They are lead-bassed, so they may not be accurate above water (although I have nother to prove or disprove that), but I was wondering if anyone ever compared the a regular thermometer with an aquarium one. Also, how much can you expect to buy a "regular" thermometer at Petsmart? Maybe I can get a thermometer/hygrometer combo pack as I have seen on the internet for about $8-11.

Undertank heater; If I have about 3" of eco-earth (the kind mentioned above?(^)) and misted it to where the top of the substrate is pretty damp, would that be safe enough to have an undertank heater without the risk of it cracking the tank? I would, as mentioned, put the heater on the opposite side of the water bowl. Speaking of water bowl...

Water bowl; Can I find a long, wide water dish at Petsmart?

Hiding; I saw a vid of a pacman frog in a tank with a cave that was made of Pine tree bark. I am wondering if there is a type of glue/sealent that would be safe to glue a bunch of pine bark together with. Also, does anyone know if boiling pine bark would work? I also want a neat fake plant to go in the tank.

Water Treatment; I have seen water treatmen marked as a reptile product, but further down it reads that it is safe for frogs and other animals. Would something like that work? Also, do I need to fill my mister with treated water?

That is all the questions I have time for right now. Thanks!