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Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
North America's biggest land salamander — a chunky, glossy burrower that learns feeding time fast.
7–13 in15–20 years
Habitat
Enclosure
20 gal long with deep substrate
Temperature
60–72°F — cool by design
Humidity / Water
70%+, moist deep substrate
Heating & lighting
No heat needed — they suffer above 75°F. Deep damp soil/coco substrate with hides and a shallow water dish. A cool room is ideal.
Diet
Feed these
- Earthworms — the perfect staple
- Crickets
- Dubia roaches
- Waxworms as treats
Never feed
- Heat above 75°F (stress, immune crash)
- Deep water (adults drown)
- Toxic-skinned tank mates
- Handling — wash hands before and after
Feed 2–3 times a week. They ambush from burrows with a startlingly fast snap — captive-bred ones learn feeding time fast.
Cohabitation
Can live with
Other tiger salamanders — same size
Never house with
Frogs and newts — toxin and size mismatch Any fish
Same-size groups cohabit calmly in big tanks, but they'll happily swallow a smaller cage mate.
