Im planning on getting my first tiger salamander for Christmas. I know what how I'm going to set him/her up, however, I am hoping I can do an living ecosystem with live plants and springtails for the purpose of making more natural and not having to change the substrate as often. I was wondering if this is safe for tiger salamanders, and what the best substrate would be for it other than the hydroton/substrate barrier, and would this minimize the amount of substrate changes?
Lol forget the plants. Tiger salamanders are little bulldozers. They will distrory anything you plant-if you put them in little pots too tall for it to climb up it might stand a chance. Tigers are like cresties, very easy care. If you put a lot of substrate in there and spot clean from time to time you can just mix the soil up no need for tons of changes. I use a cocohusk/organic topsoil mix in mine with no springtails or any helpers and they're fine! Some don't like hides, some do. Provide just in case. A shallow water dish should be provided and changed often. They're skin is sensitive so I use a water cleaner that gets the chlorine out of the water before I spray/soak my substrate. Never had problems both Sally's are in perfect help for about 3 years now.
