Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Patty, I know you posted before about how cold it got in you're house. I can't find the post even though I know it was recent. I like my house pretty cold but I was wondering how cold was too cold? I may have to add some heat to my tank. I usually keep the heat at 68 during the day and 62 at night.
Thanks in advance,
Russ

Lights will add some heat to the vivarium during the day, and although a low of 65 at night to a high of 80 during the day is recommended, the terrarium will maintain a bit more heat over night than the room does, especially if it has a false bottom with water I don't know about all species, but the auratus and the tincs can stand down to 55 at night. It will take them awhile to warm up and move in the mornings, though. I think it was a Swedish breeder that told me his auratus regularly get down to 55 in winter with no permanent damage. I'd be more cautious with the thumbnails and pumilios, in particular, though.

I have found that my P. terribilis are far more susceptible to heat than cooling below 65 degrees.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

Thanks for the quick reply! I've got azureus and I noticed something peculiar. They would sit underneath the light and I didn't know if this was caused by them not being warm enough or them waiting for the fruit flies to accumulate there. That's where the majority of them end up. Sometimes they will come down to eat and other times they will wait up there at the top of the tank. Just curious if it should be a concern.
Thanks,
Russ

No concern. Who knows why they go where? Mine will alternately go to the top of the highest bark, cuddle in the lower caves, or sit in the fountain. They will usually leave to jump to the middle and eat fruit flies when I feed, then go back and do their own froggy things. They prefer one specific plant with relatively large leaves to lay eggs upon, fertilize and then guard them, and get busy doing that for awhile. When I remove the leaf and eggs to raise separately, they continue about their business. While they may seek out a confort zone, in a small tank, there really isn't a lot of difference in temperature and humidity from one spot to another, except of course a waterway where they can get really wet if they feel like it. I wouldn't worry about where they hang out.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

Thanks for the information! It wasn't becoming a big concern yet. When I would have days off I would notice they would be all over the tank. I've been working a lot lately and most of the time when I come home their at the top of the tank. Since I'm new to the hobby I just didn't know if that was abnormal behavior. Thanks so much for the reassurance, though!
Russ