Salamander help~!!~!~!~!?

Question

i have recently aquiered 2 salamanders and would like to know:

housing conditions/enviorments

feeding

eggs

care of salamanders

can i take them out and play with them

will they bite me

and anything else you might know of


I DO NOT WANT ANY LINKS TO GO TO!
TYPE IT OUT PLEASE

im also thinking of just putting them in a tank full of water............will they survive.............can they swim/breathe underwater?

Answer 1

Make sure you always use dechlorinated water. Chlorine will kill them. You can get dechlorinated water at the pet store.

Oils from your hands will also kill them. No handling unless necessary for cleaning.

And no, most species don't bite.

You are going to HAVE to do some web research. There are hundreds of species of salamanders and they all require different care.

Here's some info on Tiger Salamanders (probably the most common). They are black with yellow splotches.

"The larval stage is entirely aquatic, so can be set up in an aquarium with 6 inches of water and some rocks they can hide in. They should be kept at 65-70 F (18-21 C). A good filter is required and aeration with an airstone is recommended. Particular attention must be paid to water quality, especial ammonia buildup and pH of the water. See the article Salamander Housing for more detail on housing.

Eventually (may take months to years) the larva will lose its gills and emerge from the water, taking on the adult form. As this occurs, the amount of water in the tank should be gradually reduced and a land area provided. Once metamorphosis is complete the salamander can be kept in a terrestrial tank set up. A substrate suitable for burrowing must be provided. Many owners use potting soil (no vermiculite), peat, and bark chips, or sphagnum moss. Anything that can be kept moist and allow burrowing is fine, so gravel is not appropriate. However, keep in mind that due to their size and healthy appetites, tiger salamanders do produce quite a bit of waste, so their cages will need frequent cleaning. Do not expect to have a permanent or elaborate set up. Plants, bark pieces, rocks or other hiding places should also be provided (multiple hiding spots per cage). Again temperatures of around 65-70 F (18-21 C) are acceptable, but the temperature should not be allowed to increase over 72 F (22 C).

A shallow dish of water should also be provided – large but shallow (no more than 1-2 inches deep). Your salamanders might enjoy soaking in the dish, and the water will need regular cleaning too.

Heating is typically not required as tiger salamanders should be kept at room temperature or slightly below. The enclosure should not be wet, but the substrate should be slightly damp. When cleaning the tank, use only very hot water and no detergents. Salamanders have extremely sensitive skin and also absorb chemicals readily through their skin. UV lighting is not required, but a regular light-dark cycle mimicking that of the area they are native to should be maintained with incandescent lighting, preferably on a timer.

Feeding

Tiger salamanders have a healthy appetite, and should not be overfed as they will become obese.

Larva will take aquatic invertebrates such as Daphnia and brine shrimp, insects, small fish, and worms.

The adults can be fed a selection of feeder insects such as crickets, earthworms, and wax worms, a selection of wild caught insects (be sure the area collected from is not sprayed with pesticides) and can be offered the occasional pinkie mouse. Due to their size and strength, they shouldn't be housed with smaller salamanders. "

Answer 2

Only very large river salamanders 12" or more will bite you. No salamanders have teeth. Very harmless and docile - but hard to catch.

There are many types of salamanders. Some live on land some live in water. Some breathe air with lungs, some breathe air through there skin, some breath under water with gills. You need to find out what kind you have! Their care varies greatly. I like salamanders, but they make lousy pets. They are very fragile and you need to wet your hands when handling them. All salamanders require moist environments and must keep their skin wet.

Some species burrow in the ground for months at a time and only come out a couple of times a year. Most salamanders are carnivores. Depending on the size, they eat various insects and there larva. Sow bugs, earth worms, mayfly larva and stone fly larva are common prey to many salamander species. Most salamanders taken from the wild will not eat in captivity.

I suggest you first, identify the species. Then read a book that deals directly with that species.

Answer 3

It depends on the species. All need damp conditions, most need water and land both. Make sure it can't climb the sides of the tank. They eat bugs, but again it depends on the species, what they will eat. I used to have salamanders (newts) that would eat an earthworm each, every few days. Some insects may be too hard for them to eat; mine couldn't eat mealworms because their skin was too tough. They might eat small slugs. They are cold blooded and may not eat every day, depending on their size.
They don't have the strength to bite you, or (probably) the inclination. You can pick them up, preferably with wet hands, but they are not playful.
That's the basics; now you'll have to figure out the details.

Answer 4

Better on its own probably. But LOL the word salamandor is so funny.

Answer 5

they will bite you and they like wet places and like to liver under rocks in the water. and i like to use them for fish bait/ can catch some big bass on them.