best substrate for slimy salamander

[dani]

Im going to be getting a slimy salamander and am after a bit advice on the best kind of substrate to use, as i know that the ph levels if incorrect can be lethal, I have plenty newt keeping experience but im kinda new to keeping salamanders!!

 

[Nathan050793]

I am fairly sure that they can be kept the same way as most ambystomatids. You could probably use a mixture of coco fiber and clean soil (no pestecides, chemicals, etc.). Provide some nice hides (perhaps a piece of cork bark)for it and it should probably be fine (You probably won't see it very often though.). I kept one this way for a week with no problems.

 

[Slimy2]

Hi

Clean dirt (clean of pesticides with a neutral pH level) or coconut fiber are fine. As Dane was saying they like to dig and you probably won't see them very often. They usually come out during night after their tank has been misted.

http://www.freewebs.com/slimysalamanders/northernslimys.htm

 

[Nathan050793]

Eh... Cameron, I'm not Dane, I'm Nathan.

 

[Slimy2]

Oops, I saw the ambystoma enthusiast figure and thought you were Dane immediately. Guess I should pay more attention to the actual username next time. Sorry about that.

 

[Jake]

Here's a link to a page that would be worth looking at.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Plethodon/P_glutinosus.shtml

 

[Nathan050793]

Oops, I saw the ambystoma enthusiast figure and thought you were Dane immediately. Guess I should pay more attention to the actual username next time. Sorry about that.

hehe, that's fine. I just wanted to let you know!

 

[dani]

Thanks for the advice guys!
well mr Salamander arrived today, its definately a little boy as he has the white gland under his chin, the place i got him sold me spagnum moss which i know is ok, but if not kept wet enough/ if it dies off the ph can be a bit too high,cocofibre seems kinda hard to get atm but ive got some ordered so hopefully it will arrive soon, will plain old topsoil from a garden centre be ok? as thers one 5 mins away from me so i could get hold of some soil pretty much anytime if spag moss is bad.

 

[Kaysie]

Sphagnum isn't necessarily okay. It has highly variable pH, and can be quite acidic.

Top soil with no manure, pesticides, or fertilizers is fine. If you can find 'organic' topsoil, that's best.

 

[dani]

I've heard various opinions on sphagnum moss, some people swear by it, but I'd rather not run the risk of ending up with a sick salamander! My dad has offered to let me dig up his garden if i need soil as he never uses any manure, or pesticides in his garden. Hopefully the cocofibre substrate will arrive before the end of the week! The shop i bought my sal at is a specialist reptile/amphibian shop and they were the ones that told me that the moss would be best!! It came in a brick form not tried/live.
Is java moss ok? if not which one should i be using along with the cocofibre?

 

[Kaysie]

You can mix topsoil with coco fiber. I do this for my ambystomatids.

Java moss is an aquatic plant, and not really useful for a terrestrial tank.

 

[dani]

Thanks for your help, newt set-ups im fine with but since this is my first sal im terrified of doing something wrong! I'll go dig up my dads garden tomorrow then! and get rid of the sphag moss.

 

[Jan]

I've heard various opinions on sphagnum moss, some people swear by it, but I'd rather not run the risk of ending up with a sick salamander! My dad has offered to let me dig up his garden if i need soil as he never uses any manure, or pesticides in his garden. Hopefully the cocofibre substrate will arrive before the end of the week! The shop i bought my sal at is a specialist reptile/amphibian shop and they were the ones that told me that the moss would be best!! It came in a brick form not tried/live.
Is java moss ok? if not which one should i be using along with the cocofibre?

Hi Dani
Within the world of caudates...you may receive alot of differing opinions, many of which may not be based on fact. Regarding sphagnum, if it truly is sphagnum peat moss, you are placing your animal at risk from an acidic environment. In horticulture, we use this as an additive to soil to decrease its pH, often where you need augmentation of a basic soil such as clay. What Kaysie stated is true, it is not an opinion...the pH of this substance is variable but typically of very low pH (3-4). See this link from Cornell University:
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/faculty/good/growon/media/peattbl.html

Glad you decided not to use this product...your sal will also be 'glad'.

 

[dani]

I see, what confused me was that the "experts" where i bought him advised me to use the moss!
Now he's got a new bigger home with cocofibre humus plenty of hides and no moss!