moss pH problem

hey. I just made a new setup for my salamanders and for my shanjing. THe shanjing in it´s enclosure seems to don´t being feling well because he spends all the day in the same place and a finger and the central head orage line show some brown spot that i haven´t seen before. I thought, think that its noting to stress because it´s very very tiny and its very dificult to see. I don´t know if are consequences of the moss species that i´m using... I´ve bought (and paid well) 2liters of a beautiful specie of moss, Pleurozium schreberi. I found out that my shajing shake his legs frequently with the contact with the moss(not always just some times)... I think in measure the pH and I did it. I take a bit of moss squeze a lot and i got a fresh 5ml water moss. Like the test said, I aded 4 and squeze the test. Comparating it have given the 5,5 valor... In the scale from 1 to 14 it gave 5,5. Is this woory? It question to woory? Can she die because of this?
Thanks.

p.s. Also the terrarium temprature is around 19ºC, don´t know if afects much...

thanks,

Yes, acidic substrate can kill a salamander. Until you are sure that the moss is OK, I would recommend moving the newt to a plastic tub setup with damp paper towels as substrate.

The test the pH of the moss, you should soak the moss in water overnight (or longer), then test the pH. I'm not sure if this is what you did?

The temperature of 19C should be OK for shanjing.

Yes was that that I did. That water was in contacto with the moss for more than 3days.
But I don´t know if 5,5valor is danger... Do you have an idea?

A pH of 5.5 is acidic - I wouldn't use the moss. Acidic substrates can produce ion exchange and electrolyte imbalance problems in a caudate leading to morbidity and potential mortality.

Did you use distilled or de-ionized water for the test? If tap water or other water containing minerals/salts was used, it could have imparted buffering capacity and the pH could possibly be lower than 5.5 (even more acidic).

I used tap water. My house tap water came out with a 7,6valor. in 3days contacting with the moss the valor became 5.5pH. But I´ve seen very paludariums with shpagnum moss that its even lower in the rank... in some anura tanks, like dendrobatids and pacman frogs also seen P.schreberi. In caudates it shouldn´t be the same case? The moss is awesome... what a shame... what species should I use? any gess? Also, under the moss its a black turf layer for DIONEAE MUSCIPULA and other carnivorous plants... It´s acid too?? Some old leaves and putrefact wood from Castanea sativa tree species is also, acid? thanks,
chip.

Long-fiber shagnum moss is recommended as a substrate. Your moss isn't sphagnum. It may be OK, but if the salamander is showing some symptoms of trouble, better safe than sorry.

As Jan said, the pH test should be done with distilled water. Tap water, if it contains minerals, has a buffering capacity that could hide some of the acidity of the moss.

I would suggest plain dirt as a substrate. For hiding, there are many options in addition to moss. Moss on top of some small part of the dirt (so the salamander has a choice) would be fine.

humm, ok. well I´m going to try with destilated water and will let for 2days. The shanjing is already in a container with castanea sativa leaves. you mean, normal dirt? earth? some "half" **** bark could do for a cave? doesn´t have problem? thanks