Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got a new tiger salamander that is about8 inches long. Set him up in a 10 gallon tank with 75% peat moss and 20% or so water. I didnt think salamanders were this active. He paces from his cocohut (which entrance he seems to guard) to the water and back around a couple times then back to the cocohut. He also seems to try to climb the corners. Temp is about 70 to 74 degrees. Leaves are oak (boiled them for 10 minutes to soften 'em up!). Fern from Lowes was bathed fully before planting to remove any possible toxins. Does he need a better hiding spot? Did I miss something? All other animals that I've had in my care that pace usually means something is missing. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time.

Matt Sorrells

He probably shouldn't be so active, but it is normal for animals that are first introduced to a new habitat to pace around for a while and climb the sides. (Be sure the lid is secure!) There are two things I see here that could cause problems (and could account for his discomfort, if that is the case). First, the temperature is too high, especially for this time of year. These are animals that live under the surface of the ground where it stays cool in summer and cold in winter. Second, peat moss and oak leaves are both acidic. Although living in acidic substrate won't kill a salamander immediately, it could harm him after a period of time.

>>Just got a new tiger salamander that is about8 inches long. Set him up in a 10 gallon tank with 75% peat moss and 20% or so water. I didnt think salamanders were this active. He paces from his cocohut (which entrance he seems to guard) to the water and back around a couple times then back to the cocohut. He also seems to try to climb the corners. Temp is about 70 to 74 degrees. Leaves are oak (boiled them for 10 minutes to soften 'em up!). Fern from Lowes was bathed fully before planting to remove any possible toxins. Does he need a better hiding spot? Did I miss something? All other animals that I've had in my care that pace usually means something is missing. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time.
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>>Matt Sorrells
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tiger caresheet

I agree with jennewt. Other than just new surroundings, the temperature is too high.
I use a combination of Bed A Beast and Jungle Mix in mine.
Jaws has a log "hide" but he prefers to burrow under the water dish. I gave up trying to keep a live plant. Jaws just dug them up. Plus I keep him in the guest bathroom, where it's dark and quiet so they didn't grow anyway.
Location of your tank may be another thing. Is it where people are coming and going and there's a lot of light? That could be disruptive to him.

Definitely ditch the peat or add some soil which contains some more minerals and mix it well. The acidity of the peat could be a problem.

I would also use much more substrate and make multiple hides to make him feel secure. In my smaller tanks, i slope the soil so that at one end its only a few inches from the top and at the other its only a few inches deep.

Maybe get a sommoth pvc pipe fitting or two to use as hidinf areas.

Also is there a way you can cool him? He's do better if you kept him cooler at this time of year (which he may be able to sense)

Have you been to caudata culture (caudate central)? There is a Wealth of salamander husnbandry info there:

caudata culture