Just got a sallie

[howard]

Today I got a Texas Barred Sallie. He / she is beautiful.

 

[mark]

NICE!

 

[howard]

Here he is...

 

[benjamin]

Looks a bit skinny.

 

[howard]

What should I do to fatten him up, wax worms, black worms, crickets?

 

[hayden]

As they are mainly terrestrial good growth foods are wax worms and Earthworms....

 

[joseph]

What kind of substrate is that?

 

[kaysie]

looks like sphagnum moss. pretty acidic. I'd move him/her to a soil/cocofiber based substrate.

 

[howard]

That is the box he came home in. I have eco jungle mix as my substrate in the tank, that is okay correct? The moss is Zoo Med terrarium moss all natural, no dyes. Should I remove that from my tank or is it okay? Thanks!

 

[mark]

Jungle mix should be good. I use it at the very top of my layer of topsoil, basically just for looks. My advice would be to use normal store-bought topsoil (ORGANIC - no chemicals), since it is way cheaper in quantity than jungle mix, and they like to burrow in it on occassion. I also use some moss, but only in a couple spots in the tank, because I have heard bad things about how acidic some can be.
He should gladly take chopped up nightcrawlers, just don't overfeed him, as tigers never seem to want to stop. During times when I have an animal I want to fatten up, I gradually feed them more and more, not too much at first. I feed them a little more frequently than I normally would with the healthy sized ones, such as a little bit each day. Im sure he'l eat waxworms too.

 

[howard]

But will the wax worms burrow in the ground then he wont be able to eat them.

 

[killian]

why not use some dead leaves instead of moss to keep him damp. this is the perfect time to get them too- Autumn! you could offer the wax worms in a shallow dish they arent great climbers, they are excellent for putting condition on animals, but keep a varied diet.

 

[howard]

I will try the leaves. Thanks!

 

[kaysie]

or get tweezers and hold waxworms in front of their face. mine eat better this way.