Vertical Conversion of “Zilla Critter Keeper” for tree frogs

[J Teezy]

i don't think the water type would effect the humidity levels at all unless you are solely doing it for the frogs sake, but simple tap water with dechlorinator in it is most likely going to cause your nozzles to clog sooner. one thing i've found over the past couple days is that by hand misting my little 10 gallon the tanks humidity would drop faster than when my mistking was handleing the misting (i had to return my pump and zip drip valve to marty because they were leaking and i just got the replacements today so i'll keep an eye on it to see if what i'm saying holds true) but i also recently moved my heat mat closer to substrate level and my exo terra dual hum / temp probe sits on top of it and i have just a temp probe on the cooler side of the tank. The exo terra probe is an open probe and my sole temp probe is a closed one. As far as temperature accuracy of the two i put them both in the same spot and temp readings were about 1-2 degrees of each other so i'm hoping the humidity reading i'm going off of is pretty accurate. I'll probably get a closed humidity probe in the future as well though just to be safe, especially once my 29 gallon viv is up and running as the darts that are going to be in the 10 gallon will be getting moved to the 29. The exo terra gauge is also battery operated. I'm probably going to pick up a manual gauge at the reptile show this weekend just to have something to check accuracy against with.

Come on Lynn go buy one of those EcoZone controllers so you can run 4 dual temp / humidity probes at once!!! Christmas can't come soon enough because I know I'm getting myself one then unless i hit the lottery before then =).

Also have you thought of maybe calibrating your humidity gauges to see if maybe they are off?

[DonLisk]

Are both tanks using the same lighting?

If your monitoring during lit conditions then the lighting is going to burn off the humidity and if different lighting is used you will have that reduction be different between tanks.

I monitor mine more at night when my frogs are going to be active. Day time, my humidity will shoot up when the MK runs but will soon drop to about 55 to 60 percent which is fine for REFTs. (We have some very dry heat in my apartment)
At night the humidity shoots up and stays up around 70 percent and once the MK kicks in the humidity rises to about 80 -85 percent for a short time and then back down to 70 - 75 percent. I'm using the ZooMed digital hydrometers.

I think as long as your in the 55 - 60 percent range at its lowest during the day then the frogs are getting the humidity they need and i would not over think it.

I have my MK running 15 second sprays at 8am, 12 noon, 6 pm, 10,pm, and then again at 12 midnight.
I use these settings since the MK is also running on three dart tanks which are 99 percent sealed up and the RETF tank has both top and bottom ventilation. I have not had to drain the RETF tank since the MK has been on it but do on the dart tanks every two weeks.

[flybyferns]

Are both tanks using the same lighting?

If your monitoring during lit conditions then the lighting is going to burn off the humidity and if different lighting is used you will have that reduction be different between tanks.

I monitor mine more at night when my frogs are going to be active. Day time, my humidity will shoot up when the MK runs but will soon drop to about 55 to 60 percent which is fine for REFTs. (We have some very dry heat in my apartment)
At night the humidity shoots up and stays up around 70 percent and once the MK kicks in the humidity rises to about 80 -85 percent for a short time and then back down to 70 - 75 percent. I'm using the ZooMed digital hydrometers.

I think as long as your in the 55 - 60 percent range at its lowest during the day then the frogs are getting the humidity they need and i would not over think it.

I have my MK running 15 second sprays at 8am, 12 noon, 6 pm, 10,pm, and then again at 12 midnight.
I use these settings since the MK is also running on three dart tanks which are 99 percent sealed up and the RETF tank has both top and bottom ventilation. I have not had to drain the RETF tank since the MK has been on it but do on the dart tanks every two weeks.

Thanks Don,
The humidity levels are much better the last 36 hours. Nice and stable.

I think I am ,simply, looking for reasons as to why she is not eating !
She did ok last night. I guess she is still adjusting?

Lynn

[GrifTheGreat]

Thanks very much, Brian
It has been relaxing and fun doing this conversion.
I enjoy taking care of the plants-too!
That's why I have gone through so much trouble w/ the planters.
Martin ( ViperJr) inspired me to create a separate place for my A. moreletii ; otherwise I would have never done it.
I had this "critter keeper" . It was my very first viv. I figured it was worth a try to convert it.

Autumn has done a conversion w/ this same enclosure as well. It's beautiful!

Lynn

i don't think the water type would effect the humidity levels at all unless you are solely doing it for the frogs sake, but simple tap water with dechlorinator in it is most likely going to cause your nozzles to clog sooner. one thing i've found over the past couple days is that by hand misting my little 10 gallon the tanks humidity would drop faster than when my mistking was handleing the misting (i had to return my pump and zip drip valve to marty because they were leaking and i just got the replacements today so i'll keep an eye on it to see if what i'm saying holds true) but i also recently moved my heat mat closer to substrate level and my exo terra dual hum / temp probe sits on top of it and i have just a temp probe on the cooler side of the tank. The exo terra probe is an open probe and my sole temp probe is a closed one. As far as temperature accuracy of the two i put them both in the same spot and temp readings were about 1-2 degrees of each other so i'm hoping the humidity reading i'm going off of is pretty accurate. I'll probably get a closed humidity probe in the future as well though just to be safe, especially once my 29 gallon viv is up and running as the darts that are going to be in the 10 gallon will be getting moved to the 29. The exo terra gauge is also battery operated. I'm probably going to pick up a manual gauge at the reptile show this weekend just to have something to check accuracy against with.

Come on Lynn go buy one of those EcoZone controllers so you can run 4 dual temp / humidity probes at once!!! Christmas can't come soon enough because I know I'm getting myself one then unless i hit the lottery before then =).

Also have you thought of maybe calibrating your humidity gauges to see if maybe they are off?

Hey JT,

Lynn changed to De-chlorinated water because too much exposure to distilled water is bad and can cause health issues with frogs. Its mineral and salt lacking and actually steals vitamins, minerals, and salts from your frogs. She told me earlier that her frog was sitting in direct. Spray path with the MK and so would be soaked several times a day. Very unhealthy for the frog.

I almost have the substrate basket finished for my Viv. Its takesn some time.

[Heatheranne]

Wow Lynn, I somehow missed this post, but it's fabulous!!! Likely due to my work schedule. Anyway, your viv is beautiful and excellently crafted! I hope your humidity says relatively consistent soon.

I've wanted a mistking, but haven't purchased one yet. I currently use a hand-pump pressurized sprayer I purchased from Kmart. It holds quite a bit of water and by twisting the nozzle end I can adjust the size of the misting droplets and pressure when sprayed. It works nicely, but definitely takes more time when having to spray 5 tanks.

Your background painting turned out awesome!!! Ooh, my mind is rolling as to what to do next. I've thought of etching small designs up the sides of my tanks but it would be tough to do once filled and heavy. I'd have to do it prior to setting it up. maybe someday .

[helm96]

Hey Lynn, I use the Flukers Digital Hygro/Thermometer. I ran into the same issue with the dial probes I found that they were off anywhere from 5-10 degrees/% and after adding my digital my little friends are happier. Here is a link for it from amazon.

Amazon.com: Fluker's Digital Thermometer / Hygrometer: Pet Supplies

Hope it helps!

[flybyferns]

Wow Lynn, I somehow missed this post, but it's fabulous!!! Likely due to my work schedule. Anyway, your viv is beautiful and excellently crafted! I hope your humidity says relatively consistent soon.

I've wanted a mistking, but haven't purchased one yet. I currently use a hand-pump pressurized sprayer I purchased from Kmart. It holds quite a bit of water and by twisting the nozzle end I can adjust the size of the misting droplets and pressure when sprayed. It works nicely, but definitely takes more time when having to spray 5 tanks.

Your background painting turned out awesome!!! Ooh, my mind is rolling as to what to do next. I've thought of etching small designs up the sides of my tanks but it would be tough to do once filled and heavy. I'd have to do it prior to setting it up. maybe someday .

Etching !! That would beautiful !! And you are so artistic !

[flybyferns]

Boggie's photo from a few minutes ago.

[flybyferns]

"Boggie" up-date

5 minutes ago


I don't think she is sick. She looks too good. Acts pretty normal. Although, sleeps more? If she does not eat she will be sick.
But, I don't want to take any chances. She was going on 10 days.

I force fed her on Tuesday.
( 3 small , headless,legless, dusted crickets) I mushed them up --- in put them into small syringe( needless, of course)
and pushed them into her mouth. She swallowed normally like she would have if she caught a cricket. I put her back on a leaf and she went back to sleep.
I have not done this in a while. NOT FUN !! Not since 2010 when I rescued my red eye - "Monkie"

I have been dribbling on pedialye soaks OR dipping her and the leaf she is on-- so I do not have to wake her. She has ALWAYS 'slept like a log'.
She does not even wake up when she gets a leaf dip !!!

I have spoken to FF members that I truly respect! And agree that -- maybe she is still adjusting AND perhaps adjusting to being alone?
Not being w/ the group was my very first thought? One night , I watched her go up to the corner of her new enclosure and get as close to the red eye calls as she could be.

I suppose, if she does not start eating on her own , I could put her back in with the red eyes until her company is old enough to be in with her, which would not be until summer as Michael Novy says it will be 6 weeks. ( he has black eye tads) Then they have to grow , and be quarantined. Or, I could, move one red eye in with her? I don't know ?

She was up, alert and shed last night.

For the time being I am leaving de-chlorinated water in the mist king bucket vs distilled, to reduce the frequent spraying w/ distilled water.

For now the situation requires patience !
Lynn

[flybyferns]

"Boggie" up-date

I don't think she is sick. She looks too good. Acts pretty normal. Although, sleeps more? If she does not eat she will be sick.
But, I don't want to take any chances. She was going on 10 days.



I force fed her on Tuesday.
( 3 small , headless,legless, dusted crickets) I mushed them up --- in put them into small syringe( needless, of course)
and pushed them into her mouth. She swallowed normally like she would have if she caught a cricket. I put her back on a leaf and she went back to sleep.
I have not done this in a while. NOT FUN !! Not since 2010 when I rescued my red eye - "Monkie"

I have been dribbling on pedialye soaks OR dipping her and the leaf she is on-- so I do not have to wake her. She has ALWAYS 'slept like a log'.
She does not even wake up when she gets a leaf dip !!!

I have spoken to FF members that I truly respect! And agree that -- maybe she is still adjusting AND perhaps adjusting to being alone?
Not being w/ the group was my very first thought? One night , I watched her go up to the corner of her new enclosure and get as close to the red eye calls as she could be.

I suppose, if she does not start eating on her own , I could put her back in with the red eyes until her company is old enough to be in with her, which would not be until summer as Michael Novy says it will be 6 weeks. ( he has black eye tads) Then they have to grow , and be quarantined. Or, I could, move one red eye in with her? I don't know ?

She was up, alert and shed last night.

For the time being I am leaving de-chlorinated water in the mist king bucket vs distilled, to reduce the frequent spraying w/ distilled water.

For now the situation requires patience !
Lynn

Up-Date on Boggie:
Well, Boggie and I am hanging in there. With the help of Michael Novy. ( thank goodness)
Since the previous photo ( attached here w/ my quote ---5 days ago) she began to get a little weak.
I began to become more concerned because she looked thin to me, too.
For example - she climbed very slowly, and slipped a little when trying to get comfortable on the glass.
Yesterday afternoon was her third Flagyl treatment.

Here is a photo from this AM. A noticeable difference between the 2 since I started the soaks / Flagyl.


below - 5 days ago- prior to treatment and one additional force feed


She is strong ! She pushes on on my hand when she is soaking in her little cup.
I think she looks better.
She has had to be force fed twice.
Still no crickets on her own.
She pooped last night.
She gets up looks bright eyed and explores- but no interest in her food.

Keeping my fingers crossed, Lynn