Substrate Help

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randallsmommy

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I just got 2 Tiger Salamanders (Milo and Otis) and have heard a few different things about their substrate. Should I be keeping it just moist enough so that when they burrow it can slide off of their skin? I am using the finely ground coconut fiber stuff. One of them burrows a lot and the other does only once in awhile. They also have a shallow dish of water to soak if they need to. I just don't want to be keeping it too dry or too moist (where mold or fungus could form).
 
I keep my tigers' substrate moist enough that it feels damp to the touch, but not so moist that I can squeeze water from it. I wouldn't worry too much about mold or fungus; it seems to take quite some time for these to become established on coconut fiber, so if you change the substrate every few months it shouldn't become an issue.
 
Nathan hit a lot of good points. I have kept tigers in a 50/50 mix of coco fiber and top soil. Coco fiber loses moister quite quickly so that is why I would do a 50/50 mix. You can buy a bag of top soil from Menard's or somewhere similar. Or just dig some up locally. Dont get any with chemicals, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides in it and if you dig up some, dont do it near produce fields or other areas of polution or chemical use. Also misting the cage daily or every other day helps with humidity. You could put a layer of moss on top of the coco fiber or 50/50 mix to retain moisture as well.
 
Thanks so much! I was real worried about mold or fungus, it seems like I am doing everything right. I will try the top soil too.
 
Do you have any cover objects? The tigers will hide under moss, as caudatadude suggested, or large pieces of bark, as I use; these will also help retain moisture.
 
Yes I do have some moss in one corner, and I am going to get them something else to hide under.
 
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