My Pacman Frog Setup with Pictures

[Mr_Milkman]

Here is my terrarium/vivarium for a baby Pacman Frog (Ornate Horned Frog). I was looking for some feedback on the setup. I know the Pacman will grow large, and this setup is only temporary, but seems like a good start (I feel) until he/she gets larger. It seems a little cluttered, but Ornate Horned Frogs are not known for moving around much, so I'm not terribly concerned. If there is an issue, it can always be changed.

Bottom Layer - 2 inches pea gravel filled with water
Second Layer - Mesh screen
Top Layer - Coconut Bedding

Plants used: Pothos, Fern, Ivy, Java Moss (water), and another type of moss.

Lighting: Exo-Terra Small Compact Top with 26W 5.0 UVB bulb

Gauges: Fluker's Hydrometer/Thermometer








This is also my first post. These forums seem really great with very knowledgeable and nice people. Oh and ignore the Nintendo DS games visible in the top picture. :P

[knighty]

firts of all hello and welcome

set up looks ok to me, just a few points to think about

1, what size is the viv? horned frogs grow rapidly
2, i would not worry about the hide, they normally dig them selfs in, would take up less space to.
3, ventilation?
4, the water area looks very small

just things to think about, not having a go.

Dave

[Mr_Milkman]

Originally Posted by knighty

firts of all hello and welcome

1, what size is the viv? horned frogs grow rapidly
2, i would not worry about the hide, they normally dig them selfs in, would take up less space to.
3, ventilation?
4, the water area looks very small

Dave

1. Size is only a 5.5 gallon, yes I know they grow quickly, hence why it is but a temporary set-up and more a test of my ability to create a nice looking vivarium.
2. If he doesn't use it, it can be removed. Only a section of the pot.
3. Top is a metal screen top, harder to keep the humidity up, but I rather the fresh air flow.
4. For a juvenile the water is a decent size, as he grows it can easily be expanded: Bedding moved away and water hole spread out. The water level is also low in the picture. When a frog is finally added to the vivarium it will be filled higher.

[knighty]

Originally Posted by Mr_Milkman

1. Size is only a 5.5 gallon, yes I know they grow quickly, hence why it is but a temporary set-up and more a test of my ability to create a nice looking vivarium.
2. If he doesn't use it, it can be removed. Only a section of the pot.
3. Top is a metal screen top, harder to keep the humidity up, but I rather the fresh air flow.
4. For a juvenile the water is a decent size, as he grows it can easily be expanded: Bedding moved away and water hole spread out. The water level is also low in the picture. When a frog is finally added to the vivarium it will be filled higher.

1, it looks good
2, i would remove first as it limits his/her choice of were it can hide as takes up alot of the open space
3, i would of done the same, could always half cover eith plastic if humidity gets to low.
4, hard to tell dimensions of water hole from the pic, was on about the depth rather than size, but even for a juvenile dosnt look like he will have a great deal of room to move in it though.. how will you stop the water soaking into the soil?

[Mr_Milkman]

Originally Posted by knighty

1, it looks good
2, i would remove first as it limits his/her choice of were it can hide as takes up alot of the open space
3, i would of done the same, could always half cover eith plastic if humidity gets to low.
4, hard to tell dimensions of water hole from the pic, was on about the depth rather than size, but even for a juvenile dosnt look like he will have a great deal of room to move in it though.. how will you stop the water soaking into the soil?

1. Thanks!
2. I think that's what I'll end up doing, but it looks good doesn't it?
3. Was thinking that too, I'll have to play it by ear and see what my temps are at. Fluker's Thermometer/Hydrometer records highs and lows, so I can keep track.
4. For a juvenile pacman, the size is fine. The depth and size is adjustable and in the picture the water level isn't as high as it normally would be. I am aware he needs more than just his little froggy toes getting wet.

As for the water soaking into the soil, some always will, that's sorta the point in order to keep the coco bark moist and the plants watered. Water will need to be replaced as it gets soaked up.

[knighty]

i like the idea of the water doing 2 jobs, for the frog and to water the plants, will
save time watering.

your set up looks ace, when you getting the lil guy

[Mr_Milkman]

Originally Posted by knighty

i like the idea of the water doing 2 jobs, for the frog and to water the plants, will
save time watering.

your set up looks ace, when you getting the lil guy

Thanks, won't get him till probably next month sometime, also allow the plants to take root.

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by knighty

1, it looks good
2, i would remove first as it limits his/her choice of were it can hide as takes up alot of the open space
3, i would of done the same, could always half cover eith plastic if humidity gets to low.
4, hard to tell dimensions of water hole from the pic, was on about the depth rather than size, but even for a juvenile dosnt look like he will have a great deal of room to move in it though.. how will you stop the water soaking into the soil?

1) i agree.
2) not at all he's perfectly capable of diiging up / under everything in there.
3) you can get plastic aquarium covers which do this job very well.
4) shallow water is good for these frogs becuase they don't swim very well


don't be upset when he digs up half of your plants, flattens the ones he doesn't dig up by sitting on them, half eats what's left while trying to catch his crickets.

my 2 year old bit the leaf off of a pothos yesterday becuse it had a locust sat on it. they spit out the leaf later.
pothos and draceana are both very good plants for horned frogs becuase they can survuve just abut anything, incuding being dug up and moved repeatedly.

rule one of horned frog keeping don't put in anything that will fit in their mouth that is not edible especially gravel because at some point they will eat it.
welcome to the world of the hooligan frog keeper.

[knighty]

shallow yeah but it still has to cover the frog.....

and id be amazed if any frog can dig through a ceramic plant pot....

people like you real piss me off jumping in a thread trying to dissagree with all that has been said.....

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by knighty

shallow yeah but it still has to cover the frog.....

and id be amazed if any frog can dig through a ceramic plant pot....

people like you real piss me off jumping in a thread trying to dissagree with all that has been said.....

very mature well considered and debated points.
why exactly is the frog incapable of burrowing under the plant pot?

do horned frogs require water to cover them or is it preferable to have a water level which will not cover their nostrils while they sit at rest for safety resons.especially with juvenile specimens. They do however only require a water level which covers their vent so that they can replenish the supplies in their bladder and avoid dehydration.

as for people like me disagreeing with everything that is said and jumping into threads, debate on a topic is what forms the basis of advancement in husbandry techniques.
Blindly following without question is the basis of religions and the third reich especially as personal experience is the basis of the statements.
and to be totally honest if you don't like what i say tough. Though you obviously don't posess the intellect to actually read what i said correctly.

i.e. 1) i agree
this may appear to the lower levels of the IQ scale as a statement of disagreement with everything that is said but certainly not to anyone with an iq much above 4.

3) this is not a disagreement with your point but rather an addition/ extension to what you say, it is providing an example of my personal experience of something that i have used specifically for this purpose. it also performs better in many cases than part covering with cling film.

so in essence i partially disaggreed with your second point. this is the basis of your outburst.
As far as the plant pot goes i think it extends the selection of hiding spots as it is placed in an area which would be other wise bare, thus providing cover in a section where the frog would other wise only have been able to dig into the substrate. now it can excavate inside / around the plant pot and have a hard structure above it's head.

this is only for a small frog on a temporary basis so the subject of the frog rapidly outgrowing the hiding places/ water area and land will not arrise.
though the question does arrise of how quickly mr milkman intends to move on to a larger enclosure because his frog will out grow it in 6 months.

possibly you should join the communist party as you appear to consider that the only valid opinion is yours.
you would do well as the next dictator of the ussr or china.