Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, we researched WTFs for several months then set up a 37 (30"*12"*24"tall) gallon tank. We purchased 2 young (3" WTF from our local pet shop (he special ordered them for us and had them in his shop for 1 week before we brought them home). They both ate 2 medium crickets the 2nd day but now 5 days later I do not believe they have eaten any more. I have tried to feed them by hand but without luck. We have experience with our bearded dragons and leopard gecko and I know they it took a few days for them to settle in to their new homes before eating well. Our frogs have been 1 week though so I am a bit concerned. Part of my concern is that the crickets can easily hide in the tank - in the plants, on the limbs, etc. So i never really know if the crickets have been eaten or are hiding.

So, what is the best time to feed (I've been feeding right after the lights go out) and what is the best way to feed them? I've listed my setup below - based on researching here, books and other sources.

Thanks,
Michael

Setup:
removed the right side glass and installed a door (wood frame with nylon screen for air flow)

screen top

installed a 4" tall glass partition 12" from the right side to make a little pond. this has 2" of gravel in it with a 12" long piece of cork as a ramp in to the pond. This has a small submersable filter. The water is 1-1.5" deep

the remainder of the tank has ceramic balls (2" deep) for drainage, nylon screen and 4" of cocoa (the expandable brick type) as substrate. There are 2 climbing limbs that go from the floor to the upper right of the tank. There is 1 large snake plant, a large zebra plant and a small guzmania - all were washed thouroughly and not placed in the tank for 1 month. The frogs were added 1 week later.

For lighting, we have a 30" fluorescent fixture with a uvb bulb (I know it is not needed for the frogs, maybe I'll change it to a plant bulb). A 100 watt bulb for daytime heat and light is positioined over the left half of the tank. The flourescent and 100Watt bulb are on a timer with a 12 hr on 12 hr off cycle. A 100Watt infrared bulb on a temp controller set to 70 degress is positioned right above the water pond. This is to provide night time heat and is supplimented with the 100Watt white bulb to raise the temperature to about 80 degrees during the day. The top is screen.

Humidity is right around 50% but our hygrometer is an older analog one. I have a new electronic thermometer/hygrometer on order.

i would put the crickets into a bowl inside the tank,one they couldnt jump or climb out of. Count them before you put them in and count them the next morning to see if the frogs have eaten any. it worked like a charm for me,i hope it does the same for you. good luck.

Spider girl, thanks for the suggestion. I did place the crickets in a tupperware container the night you made your reply. I have even placed the frogs carefully next to the container so they could see the crickets. We found one in the container the next day but she had not eaten anything. There are a few crickets running around the tank too.

The digital hygrometer came today and it showed that the RH was about 30% - less than the analog was showing. Also, the other frog (not the one that was in the cricket dish) was very unusall looking - being very brown and dry looking. The other one has been spending time in the water but this one had not. We misted the tank to get the RH up to 50% but several hrs later (about an hr ago) the brownish frog was dead. We are totally distraught. We have bearded dragons and geckos and have had many wild native frogs in the past with no fatalities. We really try to do our research and prepare the best conditions for our animals. The other frog still looks healthy and she may even be eating the loose crickets but I am not sure and am now very worried about her too.

One question i do have is how best to keep the RH at 50%. Our top is screen with the lights (heat lamp and a regular bulb) in aluminum reflectors just sitting on the screen. Should this or part of this area be covered with glass?

thanks and any advice appreciated.