Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just moved to palm beach, FL and I was curious if it would be okay to house my red eyes outside? I assume it would be okay but today it was in the 90s and I was concerned that it was too hot for them. I also had a problem of red ants attacking the cage and the frogs. So I had to move them back inside. Any thoughts on the matter and how to keep the red ants away???

Thanks in advance

ISH

Your best bet is to just keep them inside, cause if those are fire ants you'll never keep them away.

...cause it will overheat
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azureus06 I keep: leopard geckos, giant day geckos, gold dust geckos, stenodactylus geckos, crested geckos, anoles, red eyed tree frogs, green tree frogs, golden mantellas, painted mantellas, dendrobates azureus azureus06

You can keep ants away by putting your enclosure in water. However, like mentioned, you'd have to keep them in cages, not tanks, because the sun rays, direct or indirect, can make all the little animals burn inside.

Anyway, if you ARE going to keep them outside, make sure they're in the shade because keep in mind that these guys come from the canopy of the rainforests, and are used to the breezes in Central America which South Florida lacks. Either way, I don't think it's the best idea, but in the book "Frogs, Toads, and Treefrogs" the Bartletts say they keep them outside in SW Florida without problems, in all but the coldest weather. So maybe it's okay, but I wouldn't know. Good luck!

I already brought them in out of the sun. They just looked too uncomfortable and again they are supposed to be moist and their skin looked just to dried out. NOT to mention the ants. I figure it is better to be safe than sorry and keep them inside with me until I can set up something nicer with shade and with a water moat to keep the ants away. Thanks for all you quick replies...

ISH

Yeah, the ants here in FL are AWEFUL!!! And when the rains come, they only get worse. Make sure to keep your crickets well protected inside as well... I've had ants get in and devour 1500 crickets in one night!!!

I'd definitely play it safe and keep them inside. It's not only the ants you have to worry about here... FL is the bug state in my oppinion LOL Who knows what will be seeing your froggies as an easy meal and if that doesn't do them in, the stress surely will.
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Heather

Sorry to hear about your crickets gettin eatin. Let me tell you about crickets. When we got to florida the other night my relatives took the crickets we had brought from ORegon and put them on the front porch at night. Which was okay until the following day when they had been baked right inside the tank. So much for having food for my critters. IF you're interested I'll tell you a story about a pinkie/fuzzy I bought.

ISH

Wise decision