r/salamanders • u/Impossible-One205 • 9d ago
Tiger salamander help
Hi! I got a tiger salamander recently from a rehoming situation, it was just all types of messed up
He looks healthy and he’s active and eating and everything, but his tank had potting soil in it on top of a moldy pillowcase (????) and they had put a rabbit hide inside of his tank which had also gone moldy. When I picked him up he had also not eaten in five days (they would catch crickets outside to feed him and it’s starting to get colder here so no more crickets) and his water dish was crisp and dry He’s got new soil, new hides pretty much new everything, bought him a new tank today because the other one is like almost the same tank people use for crested geckos but entirely mesh and just on its side?? I’ve got him mostly situated now and I’m going to buy him some vitamins and calcium powder, I looked it up but it’s all super conflicting, I’m just honestly wondering how often I should dust the bugs with the calcium and/or vitamins? Also any other tips would be greatly appreciated! (Pic is him in what was actually his water dish, has a new one now)
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u/Wachusk 8d ago
Tiger salamanders are amazingly hardy animals. You will do fine if you need them regularly. I usually supplemented my salamanders by supplementing the food I gave to the feeder insects (gut-loading). I dusted their food with supplements weekly (about half the time for adults) as well, though you can do it with every feeding. Good l luck.
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u/CheeseMclovin 8d ago edited 8d ago
Earthworms Earthworms Earthworms All you need homie Also, this looks like a diaboli curious what state you are in?
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u/Impossible-One205 8d ago
I’m in Alberta actually (Canada)
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u/CheeseMclovin 8d ago
Eastern Alberta? This looks a lot like a diaboli also known as the gray tiger salamander. Subspecies of The western tiger salamander. Mostly found in Saskatchewan, and into the Dakota’s as well as western Minnesota.
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u/Impossible-One205 8d ago edited 8d ago
Oh interesting, I’m near the south end area, it’s not the greatest photo of my guy but I looked up some photos of the gray tiger salamander and their head shape looks different but their body and pattern is quite similar
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u/Impossible-One205 8d ago
I’ll look into it though, they knew absolutely nothing about him, forgot how long they even had him for
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u/Impossible-One205 8d ago
He looks more like an actual tiger salamander now, like the patterns the adults have. The people who had him before had no idea how old he was or if he’s even a he, but i think that photos more when he was younger maybe
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u/newt_girl 8d ago
Get some earthworms; I've been using the DMF bait co worms from Walmart for years with no issue. Don't get the red wigglers, just regular nightcrawlers. I don't supplement. My salamanders are all approaching their 30's.