TIGER questions

[ida]

HI!
If I ever set up a terrarium for a tiger sal I need to ask a few questions first. How large should an enclosure be for one tiger? Would a 22" by 22" (17" high) enclosure be enough? When setting up for the substrate, should I use charcoal as the first layer, then large pebbles, then sand, then top soil? As a last layer, suitable for digging, would "forest bedding" be okay, I think its coconut fiber. (I will be adding real plants too)
Are Tigers climbers? Would there be any use in me creating various shelfs and other climbing areas for him?
Thanks for any answers to my many questions!
IDA
PS are tigers sociable(with other tigers? Do they interact at all which would be fun for the owner to watch. Or are they happiest alone, in their own territory? If they are happy with company will my planned tank be large enough for two? Thanks again!

 

[Jan]

Ida
For starters, have you reviewed this care sheet? If not, you will find it useful:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Ambystoma/A_tigrinum.shtml
For your specific questions:
1. The enclosure you describe, would nicely house one adult tiger...with two adults, may be a little small.
2. Re substrate, you do not need these different layers. A mix of organic topsoil and/or coco-fiber is adequate, at 3-4 inches in depth, kept moist. Most importantly, change the substrate about once a month and remove feces in-between substrate changes.
3. Tigers are not climbers per se, but they are hiders and burrowers. Place flat rocks, flat pieces of wood or other hides in the vivarium - a shallow water bowl can serve as a hide and helps maintain moisture. Live plants are fine, but not necessary for the animal.
4. Tigers by nature are solitary animals. However, from my experience, they easily live in harmony with other tigers and are not territorial.

 

[reid]

But they do bite each other by accident at feeding time

 

[ida]

Thanks for the advice! I was planning on keeping only one, but wanted to know that they were solitary first.
Sounds good to only have that substrate, it is obviously less of a hassle to clean, and easier to keep clean I assume. I don't think I will use live plants, then I won't need aquarium lights.
I was planning on making maybe one or two platforms above the substrate on to which he can get up on, but mostly hide under. Also it will probably look good.
How high should the moisture be in his enclosure?
Thanks again!
IDA

 

[Jan]

The substrate should be moist but not 'soggy'. From my experience, the moisture content produced by adding 4 liters of water to a brick of expandable coco-fiber (like Bed-a-beast) is adequate. During the month, I maintain moisture by misting the substrate.
I do not use any type of lighting for my set-ups with tigers...need to stay away from any heat generation.

 

[ida]

Thanks for the answer. I was more thinking of how high the humidity should be, my bad. Like what % of the gauge? I was thinking of having no real plants but real moss. I know to stay away from all heat, but the terrarium Im planning is quite high, but would the heat emitted from an aquarium light still be too much? Maybe moss can do without that much light, some window light does make it in at times.
I was thinking of having a blend of soil and coco-fiber for a more natural feel. Here there is a sterile soil available to buy for planting in ponds. (where you use fertilising pellets instead of having fertiliser in the soil.) Would this be a good option?
thanks again for answering all of my questions!
IDA

 

[Jan]

Hi Ida,
I wouln't worry about the ambient humidity - think about the natural range of the tiger. If you maintain a moist substrate with viv temps around 72 degrees, you will be fine. Re the aquarium light, some generate more heat than others and depends on the types of bulbs being used, etc. I wouldn't use one, but if you do, monitor the inside of the vivarium temp. Be careful about direct sunlight into the vivarium. Moss tends to grow in areas deprived of light.

A soil mix is great. One negative of just using coco-fiber is that the fibers can dry and stick to the animal. Re a sterile soil - make sure that the soil has not been treated with herbicides, pesticides or other chemicals, and as you already know - fertililzers. Here, we can just buy organic top soil at gardening centers and is quite inexpensive.

 

[ida]

Thanks again!
The viv is under a window, so some daylight gets in over top the viv, but no sunlight ever reaches that window. The good thing about the placement is that I can open the window and/or the balcony door right beside and get a draft going, to cool things off if they need to be. I'll check for organic soil, must be able to find it at one of the many garden centers around here.
Btw, how active are tigers? Specially seeing as mine is going to live alone? Will I see it a lot or is it going to hide and burrow most of the time? Are they typical nocturnal animals or not? Ive read that the fire sal is, but havent got anything on the tiger.
Thanks again for this wonderful forum!!!
IDA

 

[joan]

Ida, some are more outgoing than others. Tigers by nature are burrowers, though. Don't expect to see it too often. I know some of my ambystomatids never come out, and I dig them up for feeding.