In California, the tiger salamander is most commonly found in annual grass habitat, but also occurs in grassy understory of valley-foothill hardwood habitats, and uncommonly along streamcourses. Aquatic larvae feed on littoral, benthic, and planktonic arthropods. During breeding migrations individuals are sometimes found under surface objects such as rocks and logs. Postmetamorphic juveniles retreat to mammal burrows after spending a few hours or days in mud cracks near water, or tunnels constructed in soft soil. Aquatic larvae seek cover in turbid water, clumps of vegetation and other submerged debris.
Tiger salamanders breed and lay eggs primarily in vernal pools and other temporary ponds.
They sometimes use permanent human-made ponds if predatory fishes are absent. Streams are rarely used for reproduction. Rainfall is important to the formation and maintenance of breeding ponds. Most surface migrations and other movements by adults are associated with sustained rainfall, especially at night. In some localities, dispersal of postmetamorphic juveniles from breeding ponds is not associated with rainfall.