Terrarium lights can be used not only for illuminating a cage but also as a reliable and easily controlled heat source during cold weather. Inexpensive in-line thermostats or rheostats can be installed by electricians. Plug in timers are readily available hardware stores and will help you maintain the terrarium at the right heating and lighting requirement for the species that you keep. If additional warmth is needed, heating pads, heat tapes, and undertank heaters are all readily available. Be very cautious when using any additional heating source. If the floor of the terrarium becomes too hot or if the heat becomes too concentrated in a any particular area, the frogs can burn their feet. This is why hot rocks should never be used. Also, always provide a thermal gradient in any terrarium.

Ultraviolet Light

Theories of Amphibians exact UV requirements remain conjectural. Diurnal species obviously would be subjected to more UV in their natural surroundings than nocturnal species. Even Diurnal deep-forest dwellers would receive reflected UV light. Most of the readily available incandescent light bulbs provide no UV, instead they serve only to illuminate and supply auxiliary warmth. Full spectrum florescent lights do provide some UV. However, the emissions are weak and are beneficial only when they are located about a foot away from the animal. Do not make the mistake of placing the glass terrarium near a window with the hope that the suns natural UV rays will provide what your frogs need. The UV light does not penetrate through the glass. Instead the setup will only overheat the terrarium.

Water Dishes and Misting

Water dishes are not necessary for all tree frogs. This is especially true for frogs that dwell in humid terrariums ( check individual species accounts for specific suggestions). Persistently arboreal species will obtain sufficient moisture from the droplets on freshly misted leaves. Misting should be done daily. However, if a water receptacle is provided it must be kept absolutely clean.

The Hydration Chamber (Rain Chamber)

The uses and benefits of hydration chambers, long appreciated by zoos and other public institutions, are only now coming into general use by private herpetoculturists and hobbyists. These receptacles can make the difference between life and death for dehydrated frogs, toads, and tree frogs. They also perform vital functions in the reproductive cycling of these and other amphibians. Amphibians are usually stimulated to breed during the evening rains of spring or the early rainy season. A week or so of evening misting in a hydration chamber will have the same effect as natural rains.

Making your own Hydration Chamber

A hydration chamber can be constructed of wire mesh over a wood frame or from an aquarium equipped with a circulating water pump and a screen or perforated Plexiglas top. If you live in a benign climate where the cage can be placed outdoors, a mist nozzle can be attached to the end of a hose, affixed over the cage, and fresh water run through this for an hour or more a day. Use caution though. If your community chlorinates the water supply, the mist nozzle technique can be detrimental to amphibians, all of which have permeable skins. If indoors, the cage placed on or inside a properly drained utility tub and the fresh water system used. It is imperative that the drain system be adequate and kept free of debris if this system is used indoors. A secondary (backup) drain might do much to guarantee you piece of mind. In self-contained systems, the circulation pump can force water from the tank itself through a small- diameter PVC pipe into which a series of lateral holes has been drilled. Alternatively, the water can be brought up to the top of the tank and allowed to drip through the screen or perforated Plexiglas. It is essential that the water in self-contained systems be kept immaculately clean.

Advantages of a Chamber

The use of a hydration unit can do much to help moisture-starved herptiles recuperate. Those that will most benefit from such a structure are the rain forest species that are shipped long distances to the pet markets of America, Asia, Europe, and other continents. The various tree frogs are among the prime candidates for hydration chamber treatment.