Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So tell me what you all are using as your bedding for your tiger salamanders. I'm using Hypnox brand potting soil from Walmart, it's just pure dirt/mulch with no additives and is $0.96 cents for a 10 pound bag. My sals seem to love it.

so what are you all using? and is there such a thing as a "perfect bedding" for tiger sals? Looks like every bedding has their pros and cons.
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1.0.0 Werner's Three-Horned Chameleon
1.1.0 Eastern Tiger Salamanders
0.0.3 Mexican Red-Knee Tarantulas

top soil w/ a splash of H2O every few days.

From what wood is the mulch made? Do not use cedar or pine as the oils are toxic to the salamander. The other consideration if the mulch is coursely cut is that there will be sharp edges that could conceivably harm the sal's sensitive skin. Assure that there are no pesticides, fertilizers or vermiculite type compounds in the product. Though there may not be a perfect substrate, most tiger keepers use either coco-fiber, organic topsoil or a combination of both.

It is best to offer the sal a moisture gradient..that is one end of the vivarium should be more moist than the other end. Neither end should be overly moist (not sopping wet)nor overly dry. This way the sal can choose. I place hides in both ends of the moisture gradient.

hmmm yes the potting soil bag does not list if it is ceder, pine or any kind of mulch. To be on the safe side I will swap out the bedding and use a different one. I'll try the coco-fiber one you mentioned... its the brick that you soak in water to expand correct?

The potting soil also is looking real dirty in my tank. coco-fiber will look nicer with the brown tone.
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1.0 Werner's Three-Horned Chameleon (Chamaeleo Trioceros werneri)
1.1 Eastern Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum)
0.0.3 Mexican Red-Knee Tarantulas (Brachypelma smithi)

YEs, the coco-fiber is the expandable bricks you place into water - usually 4 quarts which makes a nice moist substrate... Sold as Eco-Earth, etc.