Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in Southern CA. There are days in the summer that it gets sizzlin'. I have heating set up on my tank now and I will eventually hook up a Theramastat, but how would you automate regulation of temp when it passes the limit on the hot end? So, in other words-keeping it cool enough on hot days. If I were away for a few days and the temp rose to heat wave temps what would inside environment temps be when the home temp is say 85-95 degrees, or maybe even higher? thanks!

I am up here in Northern Cal, and it does get in the upper 90's to the century mark during the summer. I have the AC in my room (I live in some older apartments, so the rooms have energy sucking personal AC units) attached to a thermostat, so if it gets much above 80, the unit kicks on until the temp drops to 72.

Hi,

The temps in your tanks will soar to the killing point for your frogs if your "home temp is say 85-95 degrees, or maybe even higher?" The lights will add so much heat to your tanks above the room temps.

For two years I made sure I was home from my job by 2pm because I also live in So Cal and in the aftenoon is when the temps shoot up in the tanks. So I made sure I was home to put ice on the tanks and fans on top of the tank screens...one ac unit plus room fans helped but didn't fix the overheating problems...it was a MAJOR source of stress. SO last year when my hours were increased at work I had a second ac installed and a whole house fan (the things we do for our frogs) so even on days where it is 113 degrees outside, which it got to last year...the area where the frogs are now stays about 75 degress which meant the frog tanks stayed about 80-82 degrees...which is already pushing the limit. You also have to be careful when the tank lights go off and the fans and ac go off at night...you might think that because it is cool outside and the tank lights are off that the tank temps will be good...just last night one tank was at 80 degrees when the ac units went off at about 7:30pm and I went to turn the room fan off at about 9pm before I went to bed...the tank had gone up to 83 degrees even with no lights on...house temps were not even 80 degrees!

So since summer is pretty much here is So Cal I hope you get the issue handled....because it, along with the cold (even in So Cal) kill frogs of those who don't plan for it...not everyone has a job they can leave early to take care of their frogs

Tammy

I live in Phoenix, so heat can be a problem for 6 months out of the year. It is already well over 100 every day, and temps around 115 happen regularly.

There are many things that can help the situation.

1) Air condition - this is key. I keep my AC at 81 during the day - the fog tank is in a warmer part of the house than the AC, so it probably is around 85 at the tank. No, this isn't too warm.

2) I have a big tank (~70 gallons). If you have a big enough tank, thermal circulation can develop, so yes, it gets hot near the top, but the bottom is cooler. There is a pond in the tank - the water in the pond helps regulate the temperature, especially since most of the pond is 'shaded'.

3) Keep your tank well planted and really humid. Plants will keep the temperature down (evapotranspiration can even have a cooling effect - not much, but a little). Taller plants that create a canopy keep the ground cool. Other shade in the canopy stays even cooler - especially if you have a pond or other water feature near by. The higher humidity also helps regulate the temperature. Frequent 'rain' with cooler water can also go a long way to lowering the temperature a bit.

The thermostat in upper reaches of my tank regularly reaches 85 and has topped 90 before, however, I have never observed stress in my frogs in these cases. When it gets hot in the upper portions, they hang out in shade and by the water - where it is significantly cooler.

Remember, most of the species do live in areas where it gets hot. Have you ever been in the tropics/jungle in summer? It is very hot and very humid. Highs are in the 90s or even 100s and lows often don't get below 85. What I'm saying is these frogs are adapted to this. Don't let it get too hot, but when people say it can't get above 80 in a tank, they are being kinda rediculous. Just give the frogs what they need, high humidity, and micro-climate environments where there is water and shade that are cooler. Realistically, you need a bigger tank that is very well planted to achieve this.

Sorry for the length of this, but living in AZ has made think about heat and do lots of research.

To sum up:
1) AC - keep it cool, but you don't have to overboard
2) bigger tank is better
3) high humidity and lots of plants (create canopy)
4) pond or other water feature
5) make sure the tank is postioned in your home in a place where it doesn't get direct exposure from windows and such - even find the coolest place and move the tank there.

My wife and I both work all day, so these keep it cool without much direct attention and effort.

If these methods don't work for or are not realistic, the other advice that you see in this thread ought to help out.

Ken

To be honest with you, living in Tempe (Phoenix Metro area), I think I have it easier than all of these other people. I live in an apartment where my utilities are paid by my landlord, with central air. I keep my apartment at a COOL 70 degrees, leaving my tanks at 81-82 at the warmest gradient. Many homes/apts around the country don't have the luxury of central air...everyone in this sweltering hell does. In fact, I don't think I'd be in this hobby if I didn't have central air: too much to worry about.

On a side note, what species to you keep here in AZ? I keep P. terribilis, D. leucomelas, D. tinctorius (Alanis), D. azureus and D. imitator.

When first starting in this hobby, temperatures never worried me, as I knew I had the ability to constantly regulate them. It did take some time to realize, however, that I needed to use full glass tops (no ventilation) to keep the humididity to where it needed to be.

David

1.1 Azureus and 2.1 Leucs. They all live happily together in the big tank. I don't have time for breeding, so I don't intervene when the females destroy each other's clutches.

Paid for utilities would be nice. I have to pay to cool a two-level house, so it would be quite pricey to cool it 70 degrees.

Just imagine if you couldn't regulate the temp of your entire house, like only having an air conditioner in one room...

Where do you get your supplies/frogs locally?

David

I got the frogs from Pumilio.com in San Diego - this is highly recommended source for frogs. I raise FF at home. I get the media from ED's Flymeat - excellent media - and occaisionally get some flys from there. I got most of the plants for the tank from Summer Winds Nusery (Elliot and Priest). I've also gotten a couple of plants from Pets Inc. in Tempe. If food supplies are low, I'll get crickets from Pets Inc.