BIOACTIVE Pacman Frog Setup

[@RainCheck797]

My mom is 60 and has decided she wants a pet frog, so I'm helping her get set up, this will help thank you!

[@mamaj4734]

That is awesome! Tell your mom I excited for her getting a frog. Let me know if I can be of further help 😊

[@jackashcroft873]

your mum's awesome just saying hope it all went well

[@halliehasanimals1097]

Doing research about pacmans, hoping to make on my first amphibian! Thank you!

[@mamaj4734]

That is awesome. Hope video helpful 😊

[@thenerdyfishgirl]

I love how the tank turned out! I keep telling myself I am going to change all of my tanks over, but I haven't done it yet. After seeing how all of your tanks have turned out, I think it is finally time.

[@mamaj4734]

That is awesome. I think you will be amazed how much easier maintenance becomes and for people that have multiple animals that is a great help. I am planning an update video on my gecko tanks that I changed to bioactive. The plants have really grown in well. I have changed around a few things just to make the space work better and look more balanced but I am very pleased with going bioactive. Feel free to email me [e-mail] if you have any questions or I can help in any way getting you started.

[@albertosteph1]

MyHecticLifePets dont u have a youtube channel

[@thenerdyfishgirl]

@@albertosteph1 I do 🙂

[@MR-uy2zq]

Nice video! This helped me out a lot with my pac man frog setup 👍🏾

[@mamaj4734]

Awesome! So glad helpful.

[@kalit3337]

We just got our first Pacman frog and this video was SO helpful.

[@mamaj4734]

So happy to hear! Congratulations on new frog. What did you name him?

[@kalit3337]

@@mamaj4734 Mr. Pacman. Our local pet store sells only BioDude products so that was super awesome.

[@mamaj4734]

How lucky you can find his products in a store! Too cute on name 🐸

[@trevorloflin1118]

How did you like the zoomed 10-20 gal heat pad mounted to the side? I noticed that's what you had. I put one on the side of mine and ended up returning it. My tank didn't heat up. The pad did but not enough for the tank.

[@mamaj4734]

I ended up taking off and just using room temp. My reptile room stays pretty warm anyway.

[@meggrotte4760]

Hey Mama j this is excellent I have a pacman frog and I'm planning on upgrading his environment. I've had him for two years and he's a tiny little thing

[@Ummmmmkay88]

If you had one Pac-Man frog and a setup like this how often do you need to change out the substrate?

[@billyvillacis9975]

Great video! I'm setting up a ten gallon for a little guy I'll be picking up next week. Do you have any other suggestions for plants, or maybe what plants to avoid? Thank you mama j!

[@mamaj4734]

Awesome! I love pothos because they are relatively undestructable by frog plus do well in any environment. Main priority with frogs are to keep environments moist by spraying good 1-2x a day. If you are using supplemental heat as in a heat mat, use a thermostat to keep it regulated. Too hot or too dry are main killers of frogs. Other than that give them variety in feeders, dusted with calcium d3, fresh water and get you a pair of tongs. They lunge at anything including fingers ;) They are great pets. Easy and super fun to watch feed. Hope you enjoy yours 😊🐸

[@caitlinp5574]

Hey Mama J! I'm subscribed but didnt get a notification. I'm glad I saw this right awy. I love your channel and would love a pac man frog someday.

[@mamaj4734]

Caitlin KZbin now requires us to hit bell icon for notifications. I think this was a new change for subscribers. Once you click on it, you should be good. Thanks for letting me know. So glad you found it anyway.

[@caitlinp5574]

Alright I've got the bell on now 😄

[@mamaj4734]

🔔✅😊

[@tanyamiller4112]

Mama j..omg I love you..love your video,s. My son and I are getting 2 pacman today..keep up the great work I just love your video,s

[@mamaj4734]

How exciting you are getting frogs!

[@risingsunautomotive2346]

What should you set the thermostat to?

[@fleaboy5555]

Ive been looking into getting a pacman frog and have been really into the idea of a bioactive setup to house the frog. Does having a bioactive tank with isopods and springtails eliminate the need to clean the tank?

[@evantorres9222]

Love the video very informative

[@mamaj4734]

Great! So glad it was helpful Evan. ❤

[@TheStr8nubbn]

Just wondering why there is no hydroton / drainage layer and separation between your substrate. This seems to be a must in most other bioactive enclosures I've seen. Is that not necessary?

[@mamaj4734]

Typically yes you use a drainage layer. The exception is with a animal that burrows like a pacman frog. The Terra Firma substrate I used from the Biodude is designed to be used without a drainage layer. It holds moisture well and maintains tunnels and burrows burrows. It also has air pockets in it and doesn't compact like eco earth alone. I spray my tank 2xs a day and humidity stays good.

[@ValFinale]

not needed with correct substrate like this.

[@tehhron]

So how long did your frog last in a bio active setup?

[@mamaj4734]

I did about 6 months and then changed it

[@donutbeanal]

My baby Pac-Man is about the size of a quarter right now. I have him in a 5 gallon tub but was wondering what age/size will be a good time to move him to a 10g?

[@mamaj4734]

You are fine to keep a baby in a 5 gallon for awhile. Pacman frogs are very sedentary as you know but still need room to hop around to different spots. In my experience too much space when they are babies overwhelms them. Depending if you baby turns out to be male or female is also a factor. Females grow much faster. If your baby gets big quick, go ahead and move on to a 10 gallon. There is no set time but you can gage by their growth if they need a little more space. I had my male in a 5.5 for 6-7 months. My possible female I moved in 4-5 months.

[@SusanforSLCAquatics]

Thanks for this video! I’ve never seen a frog like that.

[@mamaj4734]

Susan pacman frogs (sometimes you will hear them called horned frogs) are wonderful pets! They are sit and wait predators and like a trash compactor. So fun to watch them eat. Thanks for watching.

[@Mariojr47]

Just got a pac man frog since I’ve got them they have not ate and they’ve been in the dirt for like 4 days now is this normal

[@mamaj4734]

They love to burrow in dirt. If they have had a big meal they may wait a few days to eat. Tong feeding works great. Especially if young it allows them to find food easier. Frogs are the brightest bulb in the pack haha.

[@meggrotte4760]

So can I ask you how often do you change the soil. And what does your Pacman frog eat? My Little yellow Pacman frog he eats frog pellets

[@deviananta7055]

Is there a reason why you didn't put down a drainage layer? I will be going bioactive soon and I've seen others recomend it.

[@mamaj4734]

The substrate I used from biodude didn't require it. I guess you could do one as long as had the protective mess and a thick enough substrate above since they burrow.

[@deviananta7055]

@@mamaj4734 ok thank you so much. I will check out Biodude.

[@norm6048]

Does the light provide heat? I use a heat mat on the side of the tank now

[@mamaj4734]

No light doesn't have heat. Heat mat on side best option if need heat 😊

[@TerraOblivion27]

As a Southern man myself, I am happy and surprised to see so many Southern Ladies into reptiles, amphibians, and fish! It is a popular thing these days I guess haha! I think its awesome so keep on keepin on ma'am! I did have a question though. With many isopods, plants, and possibly a small water filter an water fall with hydro balls, how often should you have to clean the tank? I have heard of some folks making self-cleaning and maintaining tanks like in nature. However others recommend once a month. What is your take?

[@mamaj4734]

A well established bioactive tank should be self sustaining, however, I don't have any experience with an additional water feature. Sounds lovely though. I would love to build a tank like that. Just my experience with fish, water areas need more maintenance so I would think monthly is reasonable to clean out any water area and filter. And haha yes us Southern girls love our reptiles, amphibians and fish 😊

[@lori8018]

I read on joshsfrogs.com that plastic plants are better for Pacman frogs cause they uproot living plants with all the digging they do and most plants need a drainage layer and better soil to thrive .. is this setup still working for you?

[@mamaj4734]

Yes you can certainly do artificial plants. If you do want a live option pothos does well. It will root in about anything. I have not had any issues with uprooting. I added the sphagnum moss around the plant and a cork flat will also block the frog away from roots. Pothos seems to be pretty forgiving even with an occasional trampling. The beauty of substrate I used for this build did not require a drainage layer. The setup has worked great. Thank you for comment.

[@LILBOOGsBUGCORNER]

Great Video! How’s it holding up????

[@mamaj4734]

Thank you

[@mamaj4734]

Bioactive has held up well. Plants are doing well. Have tweaked the placement of things a little to allow Pixel more room to move to his favorite spots. Overall, I am very pleased with the tank. Thank you for asking!

[@LILBOOGsBUGCORNER]

Thanks Mama J! Thats what I was wondering about… Without a drainage layer I wondered how you would be able to prevent bacterial build up from the frog waste… I’ve had my frog for 2 years but tired of changing the substrate.

[@LILBOOGsBUGCORNER]

I’ll be on the lookout for the updated video! :) & you have a Sub!

[@mamaj4734]

That is awesome thank you. Yes wanting to do an update on all bioactive tanks. It is more upfront cost, but so worth it in long run. Maintenance is a dream and animals are thriving.

[@drebodollaz3504]

I have a pixie frog, a curly hair tarantula, and two pacman frogs. Which would benefit most from a bio active setup? I’m thinking the pixie. I just don’t want to drive up the light bill with 4 bioactive setups lol

[@brooksmerket9470]

You need a drainage layer before the substrate.

[@vanillacarnivore]

I guess without even knowing I built something similar for my frog. I used to live in a tropical area and just recreated what I saw there plus I love plants. I made sure I selected plants both good for water and light 🌱🌿 His name is Merlin and he loves it

[@mamaj4734]

That is awesome! What a cute name too.

[@getrektmemes1883]

Does normal eco earth sold by zoomed work for a bioactive vivarium? And is it bioactive if I just add spring tails. I ask because I want to use fake plants.

[@kaylee4194]

GetRektMemes normal eco earth is fine but if your doing fake plants you really don’t need springtails

[@princenaveenthefrog1457]

Kaylees Life of pets They want it bioactive for low cleanup hun.

[@meggrotte4760]

Are you ok in the states? I am still in Taiwan. Hope all is well

[@1996vivian]

New sub here! Can you do more on Pixel? He is so adorable! How did you know he is a boy? What diseases do you have to watch out for? Thank you?

[@mamaj4734]

Thanks so much for the sub! Will try to do another video with Pixel. Males have a nuptial pad on their foot when sexually mature. Males will often croak as well. Females are typically much bigger in size. Sometimes it is really hard to tell because every frog matures at own rate. Red leg, metabolic bone disease, fungal or bacterial infections are some medical conditions common in frogs.

[@ChakragurI]

My sister wants a Pacman frog. But she read that they have teeth! So she's afraid to get one now lol

[@mamaj4734]

Yes they do but I have never had a problem and have had my fingers in the wrong place more than once! I notice the sticky tongue more than teeth. I also recommend tong feeding and that lessens your chance of any issues. They are great pets and so easy to care for.

[@heather21231]

Looks nice! However, I would suggest not adding spagnum moss because if the Pac-Man ingests it while hunting for food that can cause impaction plus I would leave the litter leaf as full leaves instead of breaking them into pieces so they don’t accidentally swallow small pieces of litter leaf.

[@mamaj4734]

Thank you for suggestions!

[@crislynbryant8334]

There was a petco add right before this☹️

[@mamaj4734]

Sad. Unfortunately can't control what ads they play.

[@audrey4190]

does this bioactive tank require cleaning?

[@mamaj4734]

I spot clean poop and wipe down glass but that is about it. If you have a strong clean up crew of isopods and springtails it helps create it's own little ecosystem.

[@smannism]

In the south we call isopods doodle bugs 😂

[@mamaj4734]

Oh yes! My dad used to sing me a song about doodle bugs :)

[@smannism]

mama j haha ♥️❤️

[@nmartin5551]

UpNorth (5 decades ago) we called them Potato bugs.

[@cricketcricket9749]

I thought spagmaum moss was bad for pacman frogs?

[@mamaj4734]

I try to keep the moss more around plants and wall it off with a piece of cork bark. Occasionally frog might get a piece in mouth but spits it out so never had an issue personally but good to be careful.

[@starlord123starstar9]

Looks good but he looks mad xD

[@mamaj4734]

If I made him move out of his hideout he does get grumpy lol

[@kendravoracek3636]

🖤🖤

[@mamaj4734]

Thanks for watching Kendra 😊

[@jano697]

Can he stay in a ten gallon for his ENTIRE life?

[@mamaj4734]

Yes they can. Pacman frogs are sit and wait predators and dont move around the tank much so a 10 gallon is fine. If you wanted to provide more space you could but I would make sure it had plants and areas it can feel secure.

[@jano697]

mama j thank you

[@hooktraining3966]

I will always fail to understand why people buy oak leaves to decorate terrariums.

[@mamaj4734]

It is just another biodegradable.

[@carolinanoriga5414]

I love frogs and any other animal one time I had a scorpion and a tarantula in the same tank and they had babies and then the scorpion ate the babies

[@mamaj4734]

Oh my goodness

[@warriorexotics2395]

It’s cheaper to make the substrate yourself.

[@mamaj4734]

You absolutely can!

[@princenaveenthefrog1457]

Warrior Exotics how do you make it yourself

[@marccoiner9868]

you know she's southern when she calls her self mama j and wears a simply southern shirt

[@mamaj4734]

Haha yes!

[@lexluthor2988]

Who else read Radioactive instead of Bioactive

[@mamaj4734]

Lol that B is camo isn't it!

[@lexluthor2988]

@@mamaj4734 it sure is 👌😁