Problem with tiger salamander

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Antares89

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Hello everyone, it's the first time I post on this forum but it's a lot of time I read many and many posts.
I apologise for my bad english.
I bought two tiger salamander last december, they come from the same laying.
Initially both eat crickets and mealworms, but in the last 20 days one of them has stopped to eat., and is very less reactive than the other.
They are about 10 cm long, the tank's measures are 60x30x40 cm, substrate is peat and there's a cork and another refuge, and a little pool with clean water.
Temperatures are between 14 and 17 degrees.
Now i make the decision to move it in another tank with the same set-up, only a little smaller, but i'm afraid that this change will not resolve the problem.
If anyone has some advice I would be grateful.
Thank you very much.
Bye
 
Perhaps not eat due to low temperatures. However you try to earthworms, there salamander they resist.
 
I already tried to feed them with earthworms but they don't accept it.
Now i'll try to raise the temperatures a few degrees. And put the salamander in two different tanks. Thank you.
 
There is a potential that your salamander is suffering and being stressed by its habitat. You say you use peat as a substrate. Peat moss should be avoided as a substrate. This tends to be acidic (pH can be as low as 3-4) and can produce ion exchange and electrolyte imbalance problems in the salamander leading to morbidity and potential mortality especially where used as the sole substrate. I would change the substrate immediately to soil (free of any additives or chemicals) or coco-fiber blocks that have been reconstituted or a mix of both substrates.

If you are going to place the affected animal in another enclosure, I might suggest using a hospital tank. Use moistened paper toweling as a substrate and change every other day or when soiled. Use spring water or treated water (remove chlorine/chloramines) to moisten the toweling...and use crumpled moistened paper toweling as hides. This will allow you to observe the animal.

Lower temperatures will cause sluggish appetites in tigers. But, the root of your issue may reside in the substrate you have been using.

Should everything work out well, I would recommend a larger tank. What you have now is fine for 2 small tigers. But to house two full-sized adults you need a tank with dimensions more like 190x30 cm in surface area.

If you have not seen this article from Caudata Culture, you may want to read it:
Caudata Culture Species Entry - Tiger salamander
 
Thank you jan.
I know that the tank is too small for adults, now they are in a temporary tank until they are so small. Ok I will immediately change the substrate.
In your opinion is better only soil or a mixture of soil and peat, and, if the second, in what percentage?
 
When I can get both, I mix equal parts of soil and coco-fiber (50/50). If I can't find the soil, which is often, then I use 100% of the coco-fiber blocks, reconstituted. I like the 'fluffiness' and ease of burrowing that coco-fiber provides. Just be sure to keep the substrate moist but not wet. Mist with water if substrate appears to be drying out. In my opinion, there is no place for peat as I choose to be safe rather than sorry. Using peat would require monitoring pH to assure neutrality... which I am not inclined to do.
 
Excuse me if I take advantage of your kindness, but is a good idea to take the soil borrowing in a little forest out of my city??
 
If you feel pretty confident that the soil in the forrest does not contain fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals, etc. then it should be fine. If you have concerns about parasites or pathogens, the soil can be baked in an oven at 175-200F for 30 or more minutes.

Please don't worry about 'taking advantage of kindness'. We are all here to provide our experiences, where applicable, to help others.
 
Ok, so I will change the substrate with coconut fiber, and put the salamander with problems in a hospital tank with wet paper towels.
When I will find a place where I will be sure that the soil is ok, I will use it.
Thank you very much.
 
Great and remember that the paper toweling should only be moist not wet. Wring out excess water before using paper toweling as substrate and hides.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.
 
Ok, last wednesday I changed substrate in the tank. Now is coco fiber, and the healthy salamander seems to like it.
Then I put the "ill" salamander in an hospital tank, with the indications you gave me.
But It continues not to eat, and is thinner and thinner. In addition has got a problem with an eye, if someone can tell me how can I do I can post a photo.
Thank you, Fede
 
I noticed in the first post that meal worms was one of the food offerings. Someone please correct me if I am wrong but I thought I read on here somewhere that meal worms are not good because their hard shells can cause digestive problems? And that if they are offered their shell needs to be split or something? Could this be a possible reason why the salamander has quit eating?
 
Antares89 said:
Ok, last wednesday I changed substrate in the tank. Now is coco fiber, and the healthy salamander seems to like it.
Then I put the "ill" salamander in an hospital tank, with the indications you gave me.
But It continues not to eat, and is thinner and thinner. In addition has got a problem with an eye, if someone can tell me how can I do I can post a photo.
Thank you, Fede
Click to expand...
To post a photo, press 'post reply' as you normally would. Scroll down to 'manage attachments', click on this and then upload photos from your computer.

I'm sorry to hear that the salamander continues to decline. He may be past the point of wanting to eat...the other item that may entice him to eat is a wax worm. If you have the means and access to a herp vet, (s)he may be able to provide insight. As your animals are new acquisitions, the one may have had an underlying illness that is now expressing itself.
 
Well, the eye seems to get better, but the amby still does not eat. Yesterday I fixed an appointement for friday with the only herp veterinary in my city, I hope he's clever.
I'll give you news.
Bye
 
Sending good vibes that your appointment goes well. I'm looking to get a tiger salamander myself as soon as they become available and am following your situation with great interest. Good luck. Hope your salamander is going to be ok.
 
Good news guys, very good news!!!
The vet told me that the salamander has got no problem apparently.
So I continued to mantein It in the hospital tank an to propose small crickets, and finally saturday It eated one of this.
Today the amby eated other three small crickets, and in these days It changed the colour of spots from grey-green to yellow-green.
Even the amby has completed the moult (I hope it's the correct word, to change skin).
Now the weight is more or less the half of the other amby, and I'm thinking to mantain the small amby in the hospital tank other 10 days, and than put them together in the large tank. It's a good idea?
I really wanted to thank you for the help you gave me, now I'm quite sure that the problem was the peat for substrate.
All you were very kind.
Fede
 
Fede, that sounds like a good plan.

I'm glad your salamander is recovering!
 
Fede - Congrats, this is great news! Like Kaysie said, sounds like a plan as long as the one continues to improve and gain weight. Please keep us updated.
 
I'm glad your salamander is doing better.
 
Hello guys, bad news.
The amby was eating regularly and increasing in weight, but 2 days ago It died.
The cause is that in these days I'm changing house, and while workers were disassembling a wardrobe in the salamander room a piece of that fell on the tanks, that fell down by the place where they were. The bigger salamander fortunately don't hurt herself, but the smaller one was in the hospital tank and a wood fell on her.
I'm very sad and angry against bad luck.
However thank for your help, I will sure ask you again If I have problems with my tiger and other caudata I will have.
Bye, Fede
 
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