Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been using a commercial topsoil mix that contains 80% reed sedge peat and 20% sand for my tiger salamander----is the pH level for this all right?

I read on a webpage that the pH for peat moss is 3-4 and for reed sedge it is 4-7.5 ? I have been avoiding the peat moss and sphagnum moss since I have read to not use it, that it would harm the salamander. I don't understand the whole pH thing. Can someone explain to me what this means, and if I can go on using this mix?

I've seen people keep fire salamanders over plain sphagnum. The low pH keeps fungus/bacteria down. If you are concerned about, just keep doing what yopu are doing: mix the moss with topsoil. That's what I do.