| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Paul
Pondweed
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
 Posted - 05/04/2009 : 14:35:34
|
A couple of weeks ago I bout a 45 x 45 x 60 exo terra Forest habitat terrarium kit. Along with that, I bought a few artificial vines, a combi therometer/hydrometer, a microclimate mini stat 100 and a Exo terra Rain Forest heat mat which was only 4 watts. I decided to run the whole thing in for a couple of weeks just to make sure it was all working and that I had the set up exactly how I liked it. The heat mat was the problem, it didnt even heat the thing up which got annoying. Now, I bought a new heat mat the other day. Its an 11 x 11 14 watt Repti Pet heater. I put it at the bottom but it still wasnt going over 22 degrees cent. This was getting stupid now cause nothing that I put in there made much of a difference but researching the internet, I saw that Grey Tree Frogs would be fine at this temperature.
Well Ive been out and got my Gray Tree Frogs today. Ive got 2 of them and Im just letting them settle in. One has already eaten which is good.
After talking to the people where I bought my frog, they said its best to put the heat mat on the side as it it a tall tank. She said that she knew heat rose but it would be generally cooler at the top and thats where the frogs will be most of the time. I got home and put the heater at the back of the Terrarium, out of sight. The temperature dropped from 21.2 to 20.6 in minutes and is still dropping. It dawned on me that I have a polystrene background inside the tank. Now, I know this inslates heat so maybe that is the reason why the temperatures falling? If so, how can I go about sticking the heat mat to the side of the tank without heating the the glass too much that it will burn the frogs?
Also, I bought some crickets which Ive put in the tub I got. I used the old heat mat that was playing me up on the terrarium. I cant get that above 20 degrees cent. Theres about a weeks worth of crickets in there so will they be ok? Ive put some fish food, a segment of orange and some dried parsley in there. Can I use baby milk formula instead of calcium dusting? I only forgot to buy some...DOH!!! |
|
|
Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 14:55:10
|
Hello Paul
Congratulations on your new arrivals. It is advisable for mats to go on the side in the case of tree frogs, but it's hard not to worry about them burning themselves. Isn't the polystyrene offering any insulation at all?
The crickets will be alright without heat. We don't have heat for any of ours as they are in a warm room in the house. I'm not sure about the milk formula though. Didn't the crickets come with a oatey mixture in the tub? Usually that has calcium in it anyway. Just buy some calcium as soon as you can, but a few days should be alright without. |
 
|
 |
|
|
Paul
Pondweed
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 17:05:32
|
Hi
Heat is coming through but only gradually.The heat mat is on the outside and the background is on the inside so Im worrying that the heat wont be enough.
The Crix are at 20 degrees and seem ok. Someone mentioned that instant milk powder is good. I was just wondering if baby milk formula is ok |
|
|
|
lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 09:38:08
|
Hi Paul, Congrats on the new frogs (pics! ) I would invest in a thermostat - place the mat on the side of the tank at the top (the bit without the exoterra poly background) use the thermostat to regulate the temperature so the frogs don't burn themselves. you can buy an on of matsat for about £20 but it'll save your toads from burning, if the mat ever overheats the stat will just shut it off.
If your heating the crickets get a bigger tub - crickets breed well if you keep them warm so you might be able to get a culture of them going (which is a hell of a lot cheaper than having to buy every week.
As for calcium, try and get some as quick as you can like kaz says. If the are juvenile frogs they need calcium more often than mature frogs and they are more prone to get MBD (not enough calcium for bone growth) and can quickly get ill, so if your frogs are young get some as quick as you can. I wouldn't use baby formula as it may cause problems later on.
Welcome to the forum! now post some pics  |
Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
|
|
|
|
Paul
Pondweed
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 13:27:56
|
Hey, thanks for the advice. Ive put the heater on the side. I have a mini stat 100 whihc is a basic on/off stat. Just trying to figure out where to put the probe now. Ive got it at the back about halfway up and half way across at the moment.
The crix are in a pretty big container (20 inches across, 12 inches deep and tapers up to 18 inches high with a top). Ive drilled in some very small holes for ventalation which are under 1mm.
The heat pad on it is a small 4 watt Exo Terra Rainforest mat which doesnt seem to do the trick at all |
|
|
|
Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 20:47:46
|
Those Rainforest ones aren't too good, we bought one for our Rainbow Boa and had to buy another a few weeks later because it wasn't pumping out enough heat.
Just put the probe in the area where your frogs spend the most time.  |
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Ive got my frogs
