Is tank overkill

[lotty]

This is my tank for my firebelly salamanders. There are two small and 2 larger ones in there. I have taken a vid of it and have just sprayed all the moss and plants. The substrate is cocosoil / coir, there is ivy, geranium and a couple of other border plants. There is a couple of plastic plants. 2 coconut hides are in the back corners. Also some logs. The moss is on tree bark. There is a water bowl with pebbles in. Also a buddha statue as I like it in there.
Is the tank overkill or is it ok as there are hiding places. What I mean is, is the floor too crowded with too much moss on bark. I could not find the little ones in there as they are very good at hiding. They were in the leaves a few mins before. Do I need to clear the floor a bit or are sals happy with climbing over and under things. Thanks
https://youtu.be/ZdXnMKwxvNI

 

[Blackbun]

This is what I like to see. Leaf litter and places to hide. You'll never see your animals again. Love moss but can be a bit temperamental re light so that'll either grow or dry up and die but it'll still be useful. Can't have too much moss as that'll help you monitor humidity. You could think more 3D and put some small fallen oak branches in there to give a bit of height. These branches usually have a good lichen growth that'll add to the effect. Some of my salamanders like climbing up and resting on these. How about a fern to give height too? The thing with these naturalistic set ups is who is it really for? Live food quickly hides and it's difficult to keep an eye on stock without rearranging the set up. But for me, I'd have this set up every time. I have three adult gallaica which have only just started coming out again to feed. I'd not seen them for three months or more and had to restrain myself from digging for them to check up. Just imagine if one had died and was rotting away next to the healthy ones.
Wonderful. Don't worry if it's overkill. Just think what you see in the woods etc and let that be your guide. What comes through to me from your video is the real passion you have for this and that passion is contagious.

 

[lotty]

Thanks Blackbun. A great help. I am the same in not seeing them for ages and do like to check up on them now and again. As the video shows, the 2 larger ones are under the coconut shell hide, but the 2 smaller ones, I could not find while filming. I used my iphone to film. I could take a walk up to the oak woods and get some branches that are on the floor.
I say hello to them when ever I see them. It is like a surprise to see one now and again in the plastic plant, just sitting there waiting for something to walk by. lol. I think it was the one that went on it first to catch the crickets the day I got them. By the looks of them, they are healthy and they are not losing weight. The small ones are very quick on their feet. lol. I am thinking of putting a larger (just as shallow) water pot in there. I know the sals like to go in the water now and again. I have a load more oak leaves but dont want to put them in and over cover all the moss. No moss had died yet. It does go dry, but not 100% dry so I spray it with filtered water about every 2 days. The woodlice in there is hardly ever seen. The worms are always in the soil and I get more from the garden to feed them to the sals. When they see them, they go for them.

 

[Blackbun]

My natural set ups have caused my salamanders to revert back to the wild and can't stand the sight of me.

 

[lotty]

I think mine are there already. lol.

 

[lotty]

New pics of tank after more branches placed in. Hope not overkill now. And one of the salamander came out to see me before I put the branches in.

 

[lotty]

Thanks Blackbun for the advice of putting branches in for the sals to sit on. This morning, I got up to this one on a branch.

 

[Blackbun]

Now that looks good and the thumbs up too from the little folk.

 

[lotty]

A couple of ferns are next to go in when I get them.

 

[MnGuy]

Beautiful setups!

 

[lotty]

Thanks. It is just the one tank. 2ft x 1ft x 1ft. Still work in progress to get it really good.