Newbie to the site and to my Red eyed babies... Suggestions anyone?

[N2froggie]

I've collected frogs since high school not real ones but as a surprise my darling daughter bought me a red eyed tree frog at Herp show. (OK it was a look at the froggie and not at the 6 tarantulas and the snake I bought Mom present) She helped me set up it habitat and Norbert seemed happy and ate well. But I saw that they should have atleast one room mate. So I mentioned next Herp show we should get him a roomie. It just so happened when the next Herp show came I was in the hospital and yup I got a new frog and she got another 6 tarantulas not knowing the dear hubby put Rana the new Red eyed tree frog right on in with Norbert, they came from the same breeder and chances are brother and sister. HE still seems ok shes settling in. I assume he being slimmer is a male and her being chunkier in the belly a female. I am trying to set up their spacious 30 gallon home. I am a stay at home wife so I mist myself to keep the humidity up, we breed our own crickets due to my daughters tarantula addiction. Always gut loaded. Any suggestions for their new pad are welcomed. I am pretty sure I want artificial plants. Trying to do this right the first time so any suggestions welcome.

[bshmerlie]

Welcome to the forum. I have 5 red eyes myself and I love them. Just remember when you're setting up a red eye tank just think dense jungle and height. They like to climb and they like to sleep on the underside of large leaves. Is there a reason you don't want to go with real plants? They do help with the humidity. If you have a light fixture there are a lot of easy to keep plants they require very little care. I could give you some ideas if you change your mind. Check out the care article on the left. You can also check out my photo album for a picture of my red eye tank. It has greatly grown in since I set it up but it gives you an idea.

[N2froggie]

Well the worse case scenario came true the new RETF died in the night last night. She started showing signs that she was shedding and was still showing stress. Less than 48 hours.I HATE the fact that she died but I hope it was from stress as horrible as it sounds. So now I am REALLY worried that my original Red Eye has been exposed to something. Put him in the new tank in hopes of preventing exposure if he hadn't already been exposed.

I do like the idea of real plants but I worry about the pesticides that may or may not have been sprayed on them. I love the bamboo and adore you're set up! I WILL have a water fall. I've got the plans going on in my head now ending in a little gravel pond. The hubby has to figure the hows out. What other kind of plants do you suggest? My house is dark so I would need a light but I want to give the best care for my frog.

[bshmerlie]

What are your temps and humidity at? Was the new frog wild caught or captive bred?

[N2froggie]

Temp is 75 Humidity is constant 90 My Norbert was in the tank living healthy for 3 months. No problems. The new one came from the same breeder. Captive bred. I read the article. I even read up on shedding and misted extra (dechlorinated water) to help her out. Norbert is the one that is still alive by the way.

[bshmerlie]

The humidity is a little high to be keeping them at full time. Red Eyes live a little higher up in the forest canopy so it is the consensus that they should be kept in the 50-70% ranges. Its felt with constant high humidity they become suseptable to bacterial infections. I doubt this is the problem with the frog that died because it sounds like you only had him for a short time. I would try contacting the breeder and maybe they give you a new frog. They can die from stress but there also could have been other factors involved like maybe he wasn't kept moist enough while at the show where you purchased him. Maybe he got cold. I would at east give it a try.

[N2froggie]

I have tried the lower humidity (70-80)but the little guy sits in the water all day like I put him in the Sahara. But I know that is not an odd behavior so I can lower that.

I emailed the company and haven't heard back from them yet. So we will see....