Need help!

[Geofrog707]

Hi, as some of you who have read my recent forums know, I have been trying for the past month to get a White Tree Frog. I posted a topic with vivarium pictures of mine and asked if it was ok for a White Tree Frog. Other than a few minor adjustments, I was told it would be ok. But the humidity and temperature of the tank are proving to not be worthy of the great White Tree Frog.
My humidity will NOT stay stable at all unless I keep it in the 80-90s, and my Temperature ranges from mid 60-70's at night on floor. Maybe a little warmer on floor not sure. And about 70s-80s during the day without the light (I haven't really tested with the light on yet, so probably in the mid 80's)
Obviously, the humidity is horrible for a White Tree Frog, and the temperature needs improvement too. Other than MAYBE a heating pad and some plants, I really can't afford anything else. I am funding this whole project through birthday money and modifying the environment anymore is just out of my reach.
I can still afford to get a frog and pay for shipping though. If anyone knows of a frog that would fit these requirements, please tell me!!! My pictures of my tank are on my album. It is a 18x18x24 Exo Terra Tank. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!


P.S. : Sorry if this seems too much like my other post, I am just REALLY nervous (like petrified nervous) that something will happen to my frogs like it did with the darts. Doing tons of research can backfire very easily with one little misstep. Thanks!

[DonLisk]

Hopefully some of this might help get the humidity up.
Do you have part of the screen top covered to keep the humidity in?

A Bromeliad will hold water and the light on top will help create humidity.
I use a 4 dollar compact florescent from a hardware sore that has 5500K as the listed light spectrum.
6500K would be better but my hardware stores all had 5500K as the highest but my plants grow like mad so its not proving to be an issue.

A large water dish will also help with keeping humidity.

Also keeping the substrate moist will help too.
You don't have to have a heat pad as long as your home has an average temp of 68-70 degrees at night. The lamp will add the extra heat during the day. A simple misting in the morning and then evening should be enough to keep your Whites happy.
My average humidity is about 50 percent and after a misting will jump to 70-80 percent.

Its not an exact science and your whites will be happy if its warm and they have some moisture and a place to soak.


This is my Whites enclosure (new pics are the 18x18x24 viv)
Frog Forum - DonLisk's Album: My Whites Free Frog Enclosure

[Geofrog707]

Thanks so much for your advice dude! I was like stalking this forum to see if anyone would comment. I gave you some rep too!

I am grateful that you said they only needed to be sprayed twice a day to keep humidity. That way I don't have to turn the fogger on (which makes the humidity get SUPER high, even if only turned on for less than 2 minutes). Do you have any other species suggestions though that you think could live in this viv? I have had frogs before (ones that haven't died because of my fault and ones that have..) so I think I could handle at least an more advanced frog then a Fire Belly toad or something similar. Not that I think one of those guys could live in my tank, but just a difficulty of care range I could probably handle higher than that species. My due date for when I will order the frog is continually being delayed because of various issues, so I have lots of time to research. I might even wait 2 more weeks (I am hoping to get money for my report card..) and then I can buy more plants and etc. So thanks again though!!!

[DonLisk]

You viv is more a tree frog setup but I would take out the fake fern in the middle and just replace it with a good size brom. I got mine at home depot for like 15 bucks.

Just rinse it off and remove most of the dirt from the root.
Then put it in a piece of cork round and get the cork round down into the substrate for support.
You'll have plenty of humidity and it will give the Whites a place to sleep and hide.

If you buy a cheep outlet timer you can set your fogger to go off twice a day for a minute or two to wet things down. High humidity for a little while is fine, same as them soaking in the water which they will do all the time.
I don't use a heat pad and just the top light. I do have a second bulb in my canopy (red bulb 15 watts) to raise temp it needed at night but its mostly used for me to view them.

Don't think of it as hard. You have what you need except the frog. I also found that one is a lonely number and you'll want to add at least a buddy later if you only start with one.

[Geofrog707]

Alright, thanks for your advice man! And yep, I am ordering two from LLL reptile so they can keep each other company. Since they are babies the tank should hold them until they get older. I will get a bromeliad as soon as I can afford it, which will hopefully be soon. Once I get some crickets, everything will be complete you are sure this set-up looks ok.

[Leefrogs]

U can probably go for clippings off of grandmas plants and it would help humidity. Photos is just a vine, very common. Spider plant, and mother in laws tounge are also house plants. A visit to your nearest old folks home, and they will be happy to give u Lil handfull of greens just for visiting, LOL. I planted mine in votive holders from Walmart, about a dollar a piece. The bigger the votive, the more hummidity you will get out of it. All the plants I mentioned are bullet proof (except for drowning) and can go a while without water and grow fast. I plant everything in coconut husk as it airs the roots enough, and let's you see if they're drownding.
Dons advice is good. Skip the petstore bulbs when u can. They're 30$, and Walmart equivilant is 8$. Same with plants, see what's on sale now instead of full price in spring. Your local florist should have 2X2" pots of mini starts for about 2$ also. Try to get square votive holders or square bowl for planting as this will blend easier in your viv and not give the crix a place to hide. I built up my bottom to match plant pots, not nessieary but hides them well. if u do use round pots, pack around it well with moss.
And don't give up on the whites, they are the best suited for most people, a good place to start. And they are the funniest. Very shy for the first few months so be patient. If the water is dirty in the morning and u haven't seen them, they're fine. To e them lots of private time and vitamins and soon they will be eating from your hand! Good luck, keep in touch.