Question: Is this too wet?

[Dreamtheory]

Ok so my GF and I have had our salamander for over a year. And I have been fighting to take care of him correctly. I have problems keep it humid and cool enough. He has been living in 76-82 degree's Fahrenheit for the last 8-10 months. So ive been making sure to keep it really wet in his cage because my GF and I are always gone all day do to work for me and school for her...

Its so wet that he digs a hole/tunnel in it, and its filled with water. He have been living like this for the 8-10 months. He seems ok though. I take him out and clean out his dirty once it starts to smell... And then he goes back to doing the same thing, He digs a tunnel/hole and just sits in the water.

He does have Terrarium Moss, that stays wet and he has a small reptile dish (big enough for like 3 of him filled with water. and he has a hollow log to hide in as well.

He seems to prefer digging this hole, and staying in the ECO EARTH thats filled with water.

Is having this much water in the ECO Earth bad? I noticed one time there was mold or something growing in the eco earth (yes i changed it immediately once i noticed it)..

so is this to wet ?

 

[pete]

Re: Is this to wet?

Sounds too wet. I think the biggest risk is that you create an environment that can foul very easily. I'd try to get it much drier (should be damp to moist, but not soggy) with a small water dish that you can change.

 

[Dreamtheory]

Re: Is this to wet?

Sounds too wet. I think the biggest risk is that you create an environment that can foul very easily. I'd try to get it much drier (should be damp to moist, but not soggy) with a small water dish that you can change.

damn then it is too wet. Because it it soggy/muddy in half the tank, typically the side with the water dish. Ive always been so scared he would dry up while were gone for 10-12 hours a day that i kept it like this...

I just took this pic right now.

He has even made a tunnel under neither the water dish, and sits under it with only his head poking out...

We also have been feeding him nothing but crickets for the last year now (its been 1 year this month since we bought him). we just got some meal warms for him though, I'm going to have to see if i can get him to eat them.

 

[Jennewt]

Re: Is this to wet?

Yes, that looks way too wet. The substrate should be moist to the touch, but it should not drip water when you squeeze a handful of it.

 

[Jan]

You have a spotted sal right? Going back to your first post - I can see you are struggling with temps also. 76-82F is very warm for these guys. Consider maybe the following:

1. Increase the depth of substrate to 6-8 inches.
2. Place ice packs underneath a portion of the tank - temps should be in the low 70sF or less.
3. Place a small fan next to/facing the tank and let it run.

Humidity is not important but a moist, cool environment is. Tank should be well ventilated. As others have said, your substrate is too wet. Continous wet conditions seem to predispose fossorial sals to bacterial and fungal infections.

 

[Dreamtheory]

Yes, that looks way too wet. The substrate should be moist to the touch, but it should not drip water when you squeeze a handful of it.

yeah that's what i thought. But he seems happy in his environment so I thought I would keep it wet like this because I've been worried about him getting to dry and dying while I'm gone at work.

You have a spotted sal right? Going back to your first post - I can see you are struggling with temps also. 76-82F is very warm for these guys. Consider maybe the following:

1. Increase the depth of substrate to 6-8 inches.
2. Place ice packs underneath a portion of the tank - temps should be in the low 70sF or less.
3. Place a small fan next to/facing the tank and let it run.

Humidity is not important but a moist, cool environment is. Tank should be well ventilated. As others have said, your substrate is too wet. Continous wet conditions seem to predispose fossorial sals to bacterial and fungal infections.

1. Increasing the depth can help lower temp?
2. I'll have to run over to store and buy some ice packs tonight, ill give it a shot.
3. I thought a fan would dry it out? And my other problem is keeping it humid.

 

[Azhael]

The problem with a soaking wet substrate is that it increases the possibility of skin diseases.
You absolutely want good ventilation and a moist (never wet) substrate. Having a thick layer of leaf litter helps maintaining humidity high on the surface. Live plants and a cover of moss also help.
Spray daily if you feel it´s necessary.

Don´t be too paranoid about the salamander dehidrating. As long as the substrate is moist, the salamander will be perfectly fine.

 

[Dreamtheory]

The problem with a soaking wet substrate is that it increases the possibility of skin diseases.
You absolutely want good ventilation and a moist (never wet) substrate. Having a thick layer of leaf litter helps maintaining humidity high on the surface. Live plants and a cover of moss also help.
Spray daily if you feel it´s necessary.

Don´t be too paranoid about the salamander dehidrating. As long as the substrate is moist, the salamander will be perfectly fine.

well then when i get home today i have some work to do in his habitat. Do you think i can dry out his Eco Earth? or do i need to replace it all ? I just replaced it about 2 weeks ago though.

It has a screen top that came with it that spans the entire top. So ventilation is not a problem, I actually thought i should cover half of the top with a book or something to maybe help keep some humidity in?

What do you think is the best way to keep it moist enough in there for him during the day while no one is home for 8-10 hours?

 

[Dreamtheory]

So I'm guessing i should get some top soil from somewhere and mix that with the Eco Earth fiber?

What do you all do to keep it moist during the day when your all gone at work though?

i guess i can try to find a cheap humidifier ? i dont know, this is where im still a newb.. lol

all suggestions from everyone would be great. I want my salamander to be comfortable and healthy

 

[Azhael]

If humidity is dropping too fast, you can certainly cover one half of the lid (even two thirds if necessary). You might find it difficult to eliminate the excess water from the substrate, but i would try opening a hole in one of the corners so that the water drains there and you can syphon it out. That will probably get rid of most of it. Otherwise just change the substrate.

 

[Dreamtheory]

If humidity is dropping too fast, you can certainly cover one half of the lid (even two thirds if necessary). You might find it difficult to eliminate the excess water from the substrate, but i would try opening a hole in one of the corners so that the water drains there and you can syphon it out. That will probably get rid of most of it. Otherwise just change the substrate.

I don't think it stays very humid in there, i really don´t know what i´ve got to do to make it humid in there, just covering the top half way and keeping everything moist should make it humid, right?

And i think I'll take Wall-E (salamander) out and all his moss and water dish and try to compact the dirt as i lean the aquarium over at an angle to see if i can drain out the excess water.

But I'm still curious as to how I'm going to make sure that the Eco Earth stays moist enough during the day... Would it help stay moist by adding top soil into the mix? I guess i'll try what you said by getting some live plants in there. I don´t know about the leaves though. I don´t know where i would get some.

 

[Jan]

You are way too concerned about humidity - as I stated before... humidity for these sals is not important. A cool, moist, well ventilated environment is what you need for the animal's health. With your hot temperatures and increasing humidity, you set up a perfect stagnant air environment for pathogens and skin diseases. You want circulating air, thus the reason for a screen top.

I recommended a deep substrate for 2 reasons. First as a buffer to the ice-packs. Secondly then, the deep substrate will allow the sal to seek the level at which it is more comfortable. If you cool down the tank, moisture will not evaporate as quickly from the substrate. So, first things first - get the temps lowered... and yes, try mixing the coco-fiber with equal parts of additive-free top soil.

 

[Jennewt]

Eco-Earth does a great job of staying moist. Even if the top layer dries out, it is still damp (dark-colored) underneath and can be easily re-moistened with a spray bottle. I just add a little bit of water to the substrate whenever I change the water dish, 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[Dreamtheory]

You are way too concerned about humidity - as I stated before... humidity for these sals is not important. A cool, moist, well ventilated environment is what you need for the animal's health. With your hot temperatures and increasing humidity, you set up a perfect stagnant air environment for pathogens and skin diseases. You want circulating air, thus the reason for a screen top.

I recommended a deep substrate for 2 reasons. First as a buffer to the ice-packs. Secondly then, the deep substrate will allow the sal to seek the level at which it is more comfortable. If you cool down the tank, moisture will not evaporate as quickly from the substrate. So, first things first - get the temps lowered... and yes, try mixing the coco-fiber with equal parts of additive-free top soil.

^your probably right, I guess the salesman at the reptile shop we got him from just kind of scared me that Wall-E would die if i didn't keep him wet enough or the humidity at the right levels...

Eco-Earth does a great job of staying moist. Even if the top layer dries out, it is still damp (dark-colored) underneath and can be easily re-moistened with a spray bottle. I just add a little bit of water to the substrate whenever I change the water dish, 2 or 3 times a week.

^Guess ill try that out, and do the same as you.

^thanks for the info you two, your definitely helping Wall-E and myself out =)