Gravel or no gravel?

[Reccetrooper]

I layered 2-3 inches of soil then spread moss on top as substrate for my tigers. I just read that I should have put gravel down first followed by the potting soil then moss. Is a gravel layer really needed and why?

 

[MnGuy]

I layered 2-3 inches of soil then spread moss on top as substrate for my tigers. I just read that I should have put gravel down first followed by the potting soil then moss. Is a gravel layer really needed and why?

Do you mean putting gravel down first as a drainage layer?

If you keep plants in your tank that will need to be watered, a drainage layer is helpful in letting the water drip down out of the soil to avoid an overly soggy soil. I don't keep tiger salamanders, though, and don't know how much they dig.

I have a drainage layer using clay balls for my snakes' bioactive enclosure. (You need to place a sheet of window screening between the drainage layer and soil to keep them separated.)

Good luck.