I want to get a salamander or newt…what are some basic/easy ones to take care of?

my mom not so keen on getting a salamander or newt…so one that's very low maintenence… thanx

Tiger and marbled salamanders are both easy. These are related, so the care's the same.

They can be kept in a large "critter container" or a 10 gallon tank. Both like to burrow, so I like shredded coconut bark for them – about 2 inches deep. They like humid conditions, so I keep the stuff moist, but not wet and mist every few days. I also keep a water dish in the tank – they don't drink the water, but it helps with the humidity and they usually burrow under it. They like cool temperatures and are nocturnal – they come out at night – so they don't need lights. They will eat crickets, worms, and other small insects (no lightning bugs – they're toxic!). These shouldn't be handled, but neither should any salamander/newt. A screen over the tank is a good idea – they can climb, and so can some of the things they eat, so your mom will be happy if they stay put. Both species will cost around $20-25.

I have a marbled and she's a great pet. I don't see her except at night or when I clean her tank, though. (Yes, I know it's a she – females of this species are silver and black, males are white and black!)






Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

i found a salamander how do i care fore it?

its about 5 cm. and its red-brown w/ tinny tinny black dots…

Well I don't know how to feed it, but I can tell you they love cool water, because cool water contains more oxygen and they partly breathe through their skin like frogs. Also they need a place to crawl up that's dry, and a place where a fine water mist sprays I've found- … I found a salamandar under my shed living where a pipe had sprung a leak, he loved to hang out in the spray. Did you know a salamandar can remember a maze after having it's brain scrambled?hmmm (science fact, after it heals ofcourse.)

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

How to Care for a Pet Tiger Salamander : Benefits of Pet Salamanders

Learn about the benefits of having a pet salamander in this free video clip about tiger salamanders.

Duration : 0:1:27

[Read more...]

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

How do i care for my arboreal salamander and California newt?

I h ave a arboreal salamander and a California newt in the same tank with a piece of driftwood and about a inch of water. I caught them both in the wild. Ive had them for about a week and i have been giving them tropical fish flakes. (I have tropical fish too). I was wondering if they will eat this and what the tank set up should be and how to care for these guys. I was also wondering if the California newt could harm me because i know that some people were killed when they swallow it. Thanks for the help

you should let them go. They should not be in the same tank together and are going to need 2 totally different setups, temps, humidity levels, etc. You are also feeding them the wrong thing. They need live food, but the ones outside usually have parasites or traces of fertilizer.
I have also heard about frogs releasing toxins from their skin in the wild, but store bought ones born into captivity do not produce these toxins. Im not sure if this is true with salamanders and newts, but its better safe than sorry.
A lot of wild animals dont do well in captivity and will sometimes starve to death or die from stress. I think it is best that you let both of them go, especially if they havent eaten anything yet. Go to the petstore and get a tiger salamandar if you really wanted one. I have heard that they can be pretty docile.
IF however, you dont choose to let them go ( bad choice in my opinion), I would go to repticzone.com and look at the caresheets they have on these animals. They will tell you the correct setups and stuff for them

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

How to Care for a Pet Tiger Salamander : Tips for Buying a Tiger Salamander

Learn tips for purchasing a tiger salamander in this free video clip about caring for pet salamanders.

Duration : 0:1:25

[Read more...]

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Care/feeding for a tiger salamander?

While cleaning my sons' room, I discovered that they had smuggled a tiger salamander they had caught in our back yard into the house and hid it in a dresser drawer. LAST WEEK. So, now we have a salamander. They found it on a rainy day, and now it's all hot and nasty and the ground is packed solid, so I don't know whether the poor thing will survive the heat long enough to burrow. Help????

Lighting
Lighting should be kept subdued. Lights are unnecessary for salamanders as most will not become active until it is dark.

Temperature
The temperature should be between 60-75 degrees. Temperatures of 85 degrees or more will kill most salamanders within hours.

Food
Crickets dusted with calcium. Brine Shrimp (frozen), Ghost Shrimp (live), Bloodworms (frozen). Adults should be fed every other day, juveniles can be fed 2 times daily since they will be growing.

Water
Water should be changed monthly, if a filter is used, otherwise you must change the water daily or every other day. Mist cage daily.

Housing
10-gallon tank is minimum. Screen Lid required for air exchange. Viquarium (Half water / half land) setup should be used.

Number Per Enclosure
One male per enclosure.

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS