Reddit reviews Leegoal Digital Aquarium Terrarium Fish Tank Thermometer(Black)

I've been told that heating pads aren't good because they don't heat the air well enough and a failure could burn your hedgie, so I stick with a lamp.

1. A thermostat is essential to keep the temperature regulated. I use this one. Look for one where the watts rating matches or exceeds your bulb's watts. Having the degrees printed on the dial is nice, but not really necessary. Place the probe at the furthest point away from the lamp. Edit: And it should have an automatic shut-off for failures!
   
   
2. You need at least one thermometer of course. I recommend one attached to the thermostat probe and one at the opposite end or maybe a bit closer to the center. That way you know if heat is being distributed evenly.
   
   
3. Next is your lamp. You'll want at least an 8" reflector dome, bigger distributes heat better. If you have a really long cage you might want two lamps. It's SUPER important that you get one with a ceramic or porcelain socket, NOT plastic. The one I linked is the one I use. The reviews are abysmal, but it's worked well with relatively light use for the last 6 months. The clamp is unusable though. For a while I had it laying flat on a metal grid on top of the cage. Now it's hanging from the cage wall with wire. The important thing is that it's secure and isn't touching anything that could melt or burn.
   
   
4. Last is your bulb, either a 100W or 150W ceramic heat emitter (CHE). Make sure you get one that doesn't give off light.
   
   And that's it!

I would stick to bloodworms, mealworms, earthworms that sort of thing. Always do store bought food, you don't want to feed him anything affected by pesticides.

You should get a thermometer something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Aquarium-Terrarium-Thermometer-Black/dp/B0017N8W90/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1427248948&sr=8-7&keywords=reptile+thermometer
He'll need a temperature between 50 and 75 degrees fahrenheit. A fan overhead should be good if it gets too hot, or if too cold, a tank heating pad or small heat lap should be good.

Here's a general care sheet that looks pretty good for any more future reference you might need. Enjoy your new buddy!

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Frogs-Amphibians/Tiger-Salamander-Care-Sheet/

Buy this

Hey, first off, KUDOS to you for doing the research FIRST. It makes it SOOO much easier doing it this way!! (That was not meant to sound condescending btw, but totally a good thing because too many people don't and then sadly have to come here for help (the help is ok of course but we've all been there too when you need immediate help! And it just reduces the likelihood when you do the research in the beginning.

Good list, I have a couple tens and a tight budget so hopefully I can help.

Tank: Check. Lid: Check. I like the Aqueon tanks because the VersaTop lids fit them! I learned the hard way the Petsmart tanks are like 1/8 of an inch longer and those lids fall thru or are too big, can't remember which is which lol.

Filter/media: I have heard not great things about biowheels but don't remember what or where. Maybe you could do a search here on reddit in case I saw something here. But, regardless of that, I would still suggest an Aqueon 20. Higher gph at 125 instead of 100 and a larger box, so you can fit more media inside it. Even if you got the cartridges in the beginning, you'll eventually give them up for better media and it will give you more room for a mesh bag with ceramic rings or something else. I have 4 Aqueons (two 10s, a 20, and a 30) all of them very quiet. Don't bother getting the cartridges. Go for better media. It's a little more $ but it's worth it. And the customer service is fabulous. My first one's motor seemed to be slow after 3 months but the store's return was 2 months. I called them and they sent me a new motor for free. And you won't have to replace the media really (not never but maybe after several years) vs the cartridges will eventually get so mucky they are disgusting after a month and water won't flow thru them anymore. You could just get this kind. This will save you $ in the long run so you don't have to keep buying cartridges. (just take out the blue plastic)

Heater: I know Eheim is supposed to be good. The reviews didn't seem that great on Amazon for that partic heater though (?) Heaters seem to be on sale at Petsmart the adjustable aqueon is $17 right now. I like the black ones because they don't seem to get that white calcium deposit (or whatever that is), the Pro, but the I have the glass ones too and they are fine even if they get that on them. I have several knock on wood that have been running for 4 years and for the price...

Light: I like the profile on those Aquaneats better than the other ones , it's thinner. I have a little 9 inch one on a 2.5 gallon and it's perfect for it. Very bright!

Substrate: Unless you are planning on having fish or shrimp that require soft water/low pH, you could save money by picking up some inert substrate like sand instead of the ADA. Keep in mind I think that leaches ammonia in the beginning, so make sure to let it like for several weeks before fish till it dissipates. This is where you could save some $ I think. All my tanks are planted and just have Petco sand or gravel from Chewy's.

Thermometer. That strip will not really work in the smaller tanks. It's weird. It works in the larger volume tanks. On my 29, it shows a fairly accurate temp, but even in my 20 long, it doesn't always register a temp. I wouldn't bother, I think I placed one on my 10 and it may not even register it if I remember. Pick up one of the Digital ones like this and just leave it on all the time and the batter lasts forever. I think I've had most of mine for 3 years, 4 years, something like that and only replaced batteries in some of them sometime this past year. Like this, just find whatever one is cheapest.

To save $, you can get your plants on r/AquaSwap. Go for medium and low light plants, not high light plants.

And get the API Master Test Kit, you'll have to have that to have a tank.

EDIT: Heaters and lights are necessary. Fish need fairly consistent temps and unless your house is always in their range... And for the light they all need a day and a night period and not sunlight which will create algae issues potentially and the plants will require a light.

You had me until you added your fish choices. I would not do either of those personally. Unless you do all male guppies. But, you have so many others that you could choose from.

There's a billion different kinds that pop up on amazon, but here's one of the cheaper ones :)