Heating Question

[Cer]

Hi, I was wondering what heating systems do you guys prefer to use to keep your dart frogs at the reccomended temperature? I'm in Philly PA and have an 18x18x24 exo terra with 2 26 watt repti glow bulbs and was wondering if I need a heating system and if so which kind. Thank you very much.

[Philsuma]

Ambient room temps - general house temperatures of 65F - 80F are what you want. 75F daytime is very good for instance.

Dart Frogs do not need to be heated. Over 80F and some species will "not do well " .

Some light fixtures throw off too much heat and can overheat a vivarium and cook your frogs.

[scarloc]

i live in the north of england, and it gets pretty cold in the winter. the temperature would drop down to below 69 degrees, whilst it should be around 80 for my leucs. i used an undertank heater. i have about 4inches of substrate so there was no way they were going to get burnt. it only raised it by maybe 7 degrees, but it was fine for them.
anyway, odds are you dont need one unless it drops below 70. you can try misting them with warm water (not hot) or perhaps putting some form of insulation around the tank.
my lighting fixture also gives out a little

[Cer]

Our house goes down to 60 some nights in the winter. Would you say the inside of the tank would be warmer? I just don't want to risk my frogs getting chilled. By the way the exo terra website says that my bulbs don't give off heat.

[Philsuma]

60F is still ok....especially if it's only for 10 or so night time hours and then the daytime temps rise back up to @ 70F due to lights ect.

Lighting on tanks will always raise the temps - usually @ 4 degrees. No need for a heating pad or aquarium fish tank heater. Those things often fail as well.

Dart frogs are good with season cycles - Dry / cool months....then warm / wet months. Cool cycles (like our winter) are beneficial for health and breeding as well.

[Cer]

Thank you very much for your help. Just a little progress report on my tank: I have the lighting, the tank, nessecary equipment, the substrate, cocohuts, petri dishes, and leaf litter. I am getting some glass cut tomorrow to put over the screen, a 20 gallon aquarium for the new frogs, and then I need to get the plants and of course the frogs. Thanks for bearing with me as I put this thing together.

[Philsuma]

No worries Cer. Glad to be able to help.