New house for Tigers?

[TheKailyBadger]

So I have had Andy (Tiger sal) for almost a year now. He is currently getting bored, er well I'm getting bored, of his current living situation. He is in a 10 gallon aquarium with loose coconut fiber substrate With a hide, water bowl, and some plastic plants. Its just getting boring and I'm looking at some new stuff like this terrarium:
Exo Terra® Terrarium - Terrariums - Habitats & Decor - PetSmart

And looking at some different types of substrate. He doesn't seem to like the coconut fiber so I was looking into moss. I've read stuff about the pH balance getting thrown off with moss and wanted to figure out if it was even an option or not. If it is what brands would you recommend? and if that isn't an option are there any other types of substrate that i could get for him?
Please feel free to leave pictures of your tiger salamander homes. I'd love to see them!

 

[Otterwoman]

Please look at this article and search around this site. I don't think anything exoterra makes in that style is big enough for a tiger sal. I would get a 40 gallon breeder for a tiger.
Caudata Culture Species Entry - Tiger salamander

 

[crickit785]

I use a 50/50 mix of exoterra tree fern substrate and top soil in my 20gal h. I also have a drainage layer of regular aquarium gravel underneath separated by a peice of window screen (cheap but works). The top soil would get to moist by itself and the tree fern was to fiberous, but mixed together they work perfect and my tiger loves it! There has been periods where I haven't seen him for like a day because he's burrowed under the substrate. I've even seen him burrowing under through the glass, it was awesome to watch. This mix I use also works great for my plants! If you decide to use plants be sure not to overcrowd the setup so there is plenty of burrowing room. Also don't use any plants with fertilizers, of if u do replant them in your substrate mix and let them sit for about 2 weeks before putting them in with your sal. Hope this helps you. If u have any questions just ask.

 

[TheKailyBadger]

Thanks to both of you! I wish I could get him something larger tank wise. But I'm a soon to be starving college student living in a starving college student apartment so I'm afraid I would have to live in a 40 gallon tank with him haha. But I will go out and get the topsoil and tree fern this week and try it out. Thanks again!

 

[Jan]

For a single adult tiger salamander the surface area of a 10 gallon aquarium works fine. If you desire to change his container, just make sure that it meets or exceeds the surface area of a 10 gallon aquarium; larger is always welcomed. For 2 adult tigers you would need a 20-gallon long aquarium or equivalent surface area.

Regarding substrates, have a look at this article: Caudata Culture Articles - Tiger Salamander 101

With substrates you want to stay away from the exotic - simple is better...and certain things like sphagnum peat moss is definitely a bad choice due to potential acidity.