10 Gal Tiger Sal Tank

[Matt]

Heres my 10 Gallon Tiger Salamander Tank. All plants are real, bedding is gravel then soil.

http://yfrog.com/0a54058681p
http://yfrog.com/0r47138101p
http://yfrog.com/0762750030p
http://yfrog.com/0l86458509p
http://yfrog.com/0990281730p

What do you guys think?

[Eve D]

Very nice Matt, I love the plants you use. I think I'm inspired to buy plants and redecorate my tiger tank.

[Sharon]

I wish I could keep moss alive - I dunno how, but I always kill it.

[Spotted Salamander]

i always kill moss as well!
what plants are in that tank they're very nice!

[Eve D]

I believe those are succulents. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[John Clare]

I hope you have a lot of soil in there for the salamander to burrow in. That's what he wants.

[Matt]

Theres about an inch of gravel and then about an inch of soil and on the higher section upwards or 1 and a half inches to 2 inches of soil.

Also, eve, they are Bromeliads

[Steve Morse]

Originally Posted by ferret_corner

I wish I could keep moss alive - I dunno how, but I always kill it.

I like your setup. The moss, bromeliads and Selaginella are nice. Your tiger will probably do some rearranging in there. They are burrowers for sure. Like ferret_corner, I have had limited success with moss. My best luck was with a setup that had a waterfall. It was a foam construction covered with epoxy and sand that I had made, used, and then left outside for a while. It must have gathered a variety of moss spores outside. When I used it again, this time under pretty good flourescent lighting, moss started growing on it and eventually covered the parts that had good seepage from the waterfall and also got good light. It was a nice surprize. Outside of that I have had the best luck with it in terrariums that haven't included animals. In my experience it seems to like light, like moisture, dislike heat, dislike a heavy nutrient load, and dislike stagnant air. I have mostly tried the sorts that grow in northern Minnesota, so that may have influenced my results. I would like to try a setup with a mister/fogger sometime. Moss is intersting on it own and is such a nice part of the habitat of many salamanders that I'd really like to know how to do it right.

-Steve Morse

[Jan]

Originally Posted by AflackMatt

Theres about an inch of gravel and then about an inch of soil and on the higher section upwards or 1 and a half inches to 2 inches of soil.

Also, eve, they are Bromeliads

Matt, the tank is very nice. However, I would increase the depth of the soil to 4 or more inches. Tigers are burrowers and what you have is not optimal. For the health of your animal you may want to also consider getting rid of the gravel if there is any potential at all that he could swallow a piece when lunging for food.

[Matt]

He hasnt even attempted to burrow yet. He has that hiding hut and he stays in there all the time and that is enough privacy for him apparently. And the gravel is completely covered by soil, its there to create a false bottom

[Eve D]

Originally Posted by AflackMatt

Also, eve, they are Bromeliads

Bromeliads are a type of succulent, lol.

[Dave]

It looks good, do you have a picture of the entire set up?

[Matt]

That is the entire set up. Its only a 10 gallon tank. Behind his coco hider theres like 3 more inches of tank space but its only soil no plants or anything.

[Ingo]

Hello,

1 US Gallone = 3,7853 Liter, you mean it is enough space for a Tigersalamander??
And most of the Bromelias are epiphytic.

Greetings Ingo V.

[Sharon]

From what I read in my house plant book and this site.. http://bromeliads.home.att.net/Succulent_Bromeliads.htm not all bromeliads are succulents.

Saying that most are epiphytes wasn't helpful without the definition. It just means its a plant that lives attached to another plant. simply. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyte

And Matt no way is 10 gls enough space for a tiger salamander - please start looking for a nice 20gl long?

Also - it looked as though you chose bromeliads with spines. Generally those are high up and away from a tiger salamander but when/if the leaves die and fall the floor - the spines generally stay hard and if your tiger drags himself across one or alongside one he can get a nasty injury or just a small injury that leaves himself open infection. This becomes more possible as the tank is REALLY small and he'll have less options as the urge to roam takes him.

[Ingo]

Hello,

i gave that hint because the most bromelias begins to rot when they are implanted in soil.
They don`t like mostly moist feet (roots).

Greetings Ingo V.

Originally Posted by ferret_corner

Saying that most are epiphytes wasn't helpful without the definition. It just means its a plant that lives attached to another plant. simply. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyte

[xMIDNIGHTx]

A ten gallon tank is quite a small and a bit of an awkward design. With that being said, I have had a couple of tigers in a 40 breeder for several months and noticed that stay in a small area in the tank.

Tigers are mole salamanders and burrowing is their thing, if they are not burrowing it might be the wrong substance, not moist enough/too moist, etc. I am not saying that is all they do but they spend a majority of their time there (during the day anyways) With several inches of soft, clean, moist substance the tigers will be in heaven in a relatively small place.

As long as your tigers have a hide, several inches (3" +) of soft, moist substrate (organic topsoil & coco fiber), good ventilation and a water dish I think you would be fine. One big thing to worry about in a small container is waste build up which can cause serous problems.

Just my two cents.

[Matt]

Sharon, like I said in the chat a couple nights ago, I want to get a female Tiger and move them both to a 20 long. Then use this tank for a smaller terrestrial salamander species like A. opacum. Also, they dont have spines, I checked.

Update on my sal himself...I named him Spud. Also, he dug today. I think he is becoming more comfertable with his surroundings because I can also see that he ventured away from his cave to his water dish (not bc of lack of moisture, the tank sides are all fogged up and beaded with water)

Im excited

[Will]

A ten gallon should be fine for just one tiger salamander. If you're planning on getting another, than it would need a bigger tank. Just remember, Tigers are burrowers.

[Matt]

I know they are. When he tears up all this moss and stuff, ill probly just use top soil and save me the trouble.