Newts in Floral Refrigerators

[adrianfrog]

Hi for all!

It's my first post here. It's possible to use a Floral Refrigerator adapted for keeping Newts inside, if I replace the analogic thermometer and connect a precise digital thermometer (regulating the temperature in 20ºC for Triturus or Cynops)? Here I can find good digital thermometers that I can regulate and so, the refrigerate engine can turn on when the temperature arise to 20,5ºC and turn off when go to 20ºC. I'm thinking if inside the refrigerator perhaps will have some toxic gases (C02, for example) that will damage the Newts.
Here some examples of Floral Refrigerators:

http://www.bushrefrigeration.com/floralrefrigeration.asp

Sorry by all that questions!

Best Regards!

 

[adrian]

Anybody???

 

[edward]

given that regular refrigerators are used to house newts I do not see any problem with the floral fridges as long as you can control the temps.

Ed

 

[adrian]

Thanks! And with the digital thermometer, I can regulate the temperature down to 16ºC or 10ºC, and stimulate the breeding. Will be like a chiller, but for air

Anybody tried to do this, beyond to keep newts in refrigerator for hibernation purpose, but for regular keeping? I also remember that some keepers put Axolots in refrigerator when have some kind of disease

(Message edited by AdrianFrog on February 18, 2006)

 

[edward]

A number of Zoos have large walk in rooms that are designed this way.

Ed

 

[jennifer]

It should work fine. If the fridge is small, be sure to open the door often to let in fresh air. Also, at 16C, most newts will still need to eat, so don't starve them. And some Cynops cannot tolerate cold, so it wouldn't be a good idea for them.

 

[marcus]

Just as a side note on this, you can purchase a temperature controller from Johnson controls that will allow you to maintain +/- 2 degrees of a temperature setpoint for about $50.00.

The control basically plugs into the wall and the fridge into it. When the temperature gets +2 from setpoint, the controller provides power to the fridge. Once the temperature goes 2 degrees below setpoint, the controller electrically isolates the fridge, stopping the cooling.

This is certainly not optimal, but this method kept my marbled newts alive when the AC broke last summer and temperatures were in the 90's.

I bought mine originally for lagering home brew. The following link is to a different unit that has some slightly different specs but is, for all intents and purposes, the same thing.

http://www.morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=16663

 

[adrian]

Hi for all,

Thanks!!! Here I can find a digital temperature controller(http://www.fullgauge.com/)that is very precise. In Brazil, we use this kind to do DIY chillers for brazilian reef aquariums. With this controller we can set to tur on and turn off +/- 0,5 degrees of a temperature set point.
Here is the link for the DIY brazilian chiller (it's in portuguese, but have a picture):
http://www.reefcorner.org/diy/resfriamento/chiller.htm

Best Regards!