heating 4 dartrfrogs advice

[nelsonuk]

I was just wondering what type of heat mats anybody would recommend for a 45x45x60 viv, I am unsure of what wattage it should be as the exo terra rainforest medium is 8watts & doesn't seem 2 heat up at all.
Substrate is, 2" hydroleca, covering of sphag moss then 2-3" eco earth n scattered bark chips over top.
Thanks in advance!

[Morgan Freeman]

What temps are you reaching?

You shouldn't really need much extra heat for darts, mid 70s is usually about right depending on species.

[animalstory]

i use to use a a power plate in the ceiling to heat mine before the days of exo terras.
I am going to be going through the same though as recently bout 4 blue auratus which will be kept in a 30x30x30 exo terra till they get big enough for a 45x45x60.

I would be looking to buy a hood and use a 2.0 (large bulb) uv and a large 150 watt sun during the day. Good light will give good plant growth and give the frogs a better sense of security due to more places to hid. This alone will bring tempertures up during the day to the upper part of the viv and the lower shaded parts will be cooler. Im also going to be fitting a polywog spray system on a timer (timer with seconds setting) to keep the air flowing and humidity up. This tank will be in my reptile room where the night temp is 24c so i dont actully need to worry about additional heating. However i would recomend buying a second hood and using the night bulbs (bule) two of the large ones would give enough heat for night time. then use timers to swith day and night bulbs on and of when required. This way you should find temps are ok. you can still leave the heat mat turn on with the use of a thermostat. as the day bulbs warm the viv up the mat will get turned off during the day and at night the blue night bulbs will keep the top warm and the mat the bottom. remember the frogs will be glad of some cool spots.

with the exo small cube im just using a heat mat underneath on a thermostat and during the day a small sun light. i will hand spray them daily.

i plan to get the large viv up and running shortly as i want all the plants to have become established long before the frogs move in.

be careful with crickets (i hate them) try culturing some been weevls (very easy!)and use fruit flies. The darts will eat the larva and even the mites that often breed in the fly mix.

hope this helps! pm if you need or have any more questions.
animal

[jennlovesfrogs]

I would say the same, my auratus don't have any heating at all, the lighting alone is suffiecient.

[nelsonuk]

Originally Posted by Morgan Freeman

What temps are you reaching?

You shouldn't really need much extra heat for darts, mid 70s is usually about right depending on species.

Well now that the temps have dropped outside, im reaching lower 70s, day & a drop to exact 70 at night, where as I was mid 70s day & low 70s at night, I just thought I may need to give the tank a heat source over the winter months!

I keep auratus & tincs

[darrensimps]

Try putting your radiatiors on for longer big stoo!!!

[nelsonuk]

Originally Posted by animalstorey

hope this helps! pm if you need or have any more questions.
animal

Brilliant knowledge, thanks for the information!

[darrensimps]

Why don't you try putting your radiators on for longer big stoo???

[nelsonuk]

Originally Posted by darrensimps

Try putting your radiatiors on for longer big stoo!!!

Brilliant....! Get off my post darry.
I hav turned the heating up I just need an additional boost I think!

[animalstory]

Originally Posted by nelsonuk

Well now that the temps have dropped outside, im reaching lower 70s, day & a drop to exact 70 at night, where as I was mid 70s day & low 70s at night, I just thought I may need to give the tank a heat source over the winter months!

I keep auratus & tincs

red buld or exo terra night lite (blue bulb) work a treat