tiger sal substrate

[LauraMartin]

i have 2 tigers, only had them about a month and i am worried about substrate because many people give different advice. when i bought them they pet shop told me to buy peat, which i did, but have since removed it because of advice on acidity. This is a question for Mark (moderator from uk) or any other toger owners in the uk. i have bought asda smart price compost, because it doesnt have any additives in it, and the tigers seem ok, but one of my sals burrows all day long and im worried that the compost could sort of inpact on top of her. i get very worried about her being under it all day long. i seen a post from mark saying u use bark from B&Q, do you think i should switch to that, or maybe mix the compost with it? im just worried that the compost alone is too dense. i have some moss and coc fiber on the top. the compost in about 4 inches deep and my smallest sal digs right to the glass on the bottom of the terrarium.

i know the sals are doing good, eating ok etc, but i just want to do the best for them, im a worrier. also i dont know the age of my sals, but i got them both at around 5 inches, one has grown a lot and is plumper and longer and very responsive to food, but the other is still small and takes ages to get food, she will let worms get away all the time. i feed her a variety, but been giving her wax wors lately to fatten her up because she is so small. perhapes she is just young and isnt a good hunter yet??? i really dont know. also when i say He/She, i have no idea of sex, i just call the big one he and small one she.

any help on any of these topics will be great. thanks.

 

[Kaysie]

Tiger sals are natural burrowers. They spend their whole life underground, save for a few days worth of breeding. Them spending all their time under the compost is normal. As long as you don't have lots of weight ontop of your substrate (like big rocks that are unsupported), you won't have to worry about 'crushing' or anything.

 

[John]

i have bought asda smart price compost, because it doesnt have any additives in it, and the tigers seem ok, but one of my sals burrows all day long and im worried that the compost could sort of inpact on top of her. i get very worried about her being under it all day long. i seen a post from mark saying u use bark from B&Q, do you think i should switch to that, or maybe mix the compost with it? im just worried that the compost alone is too dense. i have some moss and coc fiber on the top. the compost in about 4 inches deep and my smallest sal digs right to the glass on the bottom of the terrarium.

Don't worry - they are built to burrow. Sometimes they're found metres down in the soil. Some spend more time doing it than others - there really are personality differences.

i know the sals are doing good, eating ok etc, but i just want to do the best for them, im a worrier. also i dont know the age of my sals, but i got them both at around 5 inches, one has grown a lot and is plumper and longer and very responsive to food, but the other is still small and takes ages to get food, she will let worms get away all the time. i feed her a variety, but been giving her wax wors lately to fatten her up because she is so small. perhapes she is just young and isnt a good hunter yet??? i really dont know. also when i say He/She, i have no idea of sex, i just call the big one he and small one she.

If they were 5 inches when you acquired them then it is likely they were that year's eggs. Some grow faster than others, some grow larger than others and some are more amenable to captivity. In any case, there is no doubt that wax worms are a great food for putting weight onto salamanders. Personally I always hand feed my tigers to make sure they all eat and get a fair share.

 

[LauraMartin]

Thanks very much for that help guys. i feed them by dropping food infront of them and making sure they eat it. that way i know exactly who has eaten what. i never just put food in and let them get on with it, because i know the bigger one would eat it all before the little one gets a chance.

thanks again, i feel much better about the little one being underground so much now.