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Dart Den

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

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Heat tape ok for Dart Frogs ?
#1
I've had my first 10 gallon frog tank set up for a few days to monitor the tank temps. No frogs in the tank yet. Temps were fine the first few days when I was home during the day with the heat in the house on - 74 during the day, 64 at night. But, during the week while my wife & I are at work the heat is turned down to 64. The tank with the light on will maybe get to 70.

I have a few questions about using the heat tape to get the temp up to a steady 74 during the day. How does the tape adhere to the tank? Is it sticky on one side? I see it comes in different widths. How do you figure out what width to use and how much of it you need?

I was thinking of a 3" width piece, 20" long running along the back of the tank towards the bottom. Will that be enough to raise the tank temp 4 degrees?

Ideally would it be best to have the tape on the bottom underside of the tank to heat the standing water in the tank?

Last question, I promise Smile What are the better name brands of the thermostats to get along with the tape?

Thanks guys,
GARY
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#2
is it possible to install a heat pad or add some lights?

I have question for whoever replies to this thread... can the frogs not tolerate temps under 70? I luckily live in the desert and I get moderate temps for most of the year, but during the winter it does get a bit dry and cold so I would worry.
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#3
The temperature range tolerated by most dart frogs, depending on species, is between 70-80 degrees. Most species will toelrate a drop in temp into the upper 60's, but extended periods (i.e. multiple days) in such a range is not suggested. The same can be said for temps over 80, with the exception of a few species such as pumilio which enjoy temps into the low 80's and tolerate temps into the mid 80's. Another thing you will want to avoid is cold drafts blowing onto your enclosures. Such drafts will cause your frogs to be reclusive, at best, and possibly even cause stress and inactivity eventually leading to starvation and/or death.

As for the heat tape and heating pads, I've only used them twice on my first two tanks. I did not have success with these two colonies. The frogs
were wild caught animals sold to me from a importer who will remain nameless, but had a reputation for selling very questionable frogs. At the time a couple people told me that it was not good to use heating pads under your tanks because it is hard to monitor the heat they are producing. I also heard it is confusing to the frogs whose instincts tell it that in a natural setting the ground would be cooler than the air around it. Heat radiating from the ground could especially bother ground dwelling frogs such as tincs, terribilis, and etc.
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#4
I have used a false bottom on all my vivs and found that a submersible heater, usually found with the used fish tanks I buy, works well.
Keeping the water heated and moving with a waterfall and power heads works great for me! Keeps the condensation high in my vivs so that I haven't had to mist at all.
The very first viv I built I used a reptile tank and accessories I had around.There I used a ZooMed (plug) heating mat from a desert viv taped to the back glass panel of my dart viv. Basically the back of my viv was warm but wasn't so successful at heating the rest of the viv. Then I decided to just heat the water as you would a fish tank.
Hope that help some.
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#5
Hi Gary,
74 room temp with lighting will generally raise temps about 5 degrees or so. That brings us to 79. Plenty high enough temps for most Darts.
64 with lights brings us to 69 when you are gone. Plenty high enough temps for most Darts.
A nighttime temp of 64 , as a low, is plenty warm enough for most Darts.
Swings in temps are good. Larger tanks give you more options. Unless your house hold temps are constantly around 60 , ( BTW, most Darts can handle temps into the 50's for awhile) you should need no added heat.
You do not need to heat up a viv to create humidity, this can be very easily controlled by circulation and ventilation.
I know I can raise the humidity of my house by boiling pots of water on my stove, but why. Same thing applies to a viv. Most Darts handle cooler temps much better than constant, equal heat.

Rich

Rich
Darts with parasites are analogous to mixed tanks, there are no known benefits to the frogs with either.


If tone is more important to you than content, you are at the wrong place.

My new email address is: rich.frye@icloud.com and new phone number is 773 577 3476
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#6
Thanks guys.

I ended up wraping the tank, except for the front glass, with 1/2" insulation. Helps keep the heat in the tank while I'm gone during the day. Hasn't been any problem with increased temps over 74 even when I'm home and the heat in the house is on.

GARY
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