Hi, that last person gave you crap information. Just follow this information I am going to give you, It is information for a tiger salamander, but just go with it, and every time it says tiger salamander, but in spotted salamander.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adults can be maintained in a variety of enclosures depending on the keeper’s wishes. The simplest enclosure is a large plastic storage box. Alternatively, the salamander can be housed in an aquarium or other enclosure that allows better viewing.

Substrates in tiger salamander enclosures should be moisture retentive to provide for adequate humidity to prevent desiccation of the salamander. There should ideally be a moisture gradient in the enclosure to allow the salamander to osmoregulate. This can be accomplished by sloping the substrate from one side of the enclosure to the other. All substrates used in terrestrial salamander enclosures should have the pH of the substrate checked prior to placing the salamander on the substrate. It has been shown that substrates with a low pH, like peat moss or sphagnum moss, may cause ion loss and eventual death of the animal. One option is moistened unbleached paper towels, with crumpled pieces of moist paper towels provide hiding areas to minimize stress. These bare enclosures are excellent for quarantine purposes and collection of fecal samples for parasite checks. To prevent accumulation of bacteria, paper toweling must be changed every few days, or when soiled. More natural substrates include moist topsoil or coconut fiber bedding. Soil should be changed every one to two months, and feces removed daily.

If the salamanders have a substrate that does not allow them to burrow, then alternative hideouts need to be provided to relieve stress. If the keeper desires to observe the salamander in its burrow, the terrarium can be constructed with a center area consisting of gravel. Loose soil is provided around the center area to allow for burrowing. Pieces of PVC tubing can be cut in half and placed with the cut side against the window with an entrance above the soil level. If the side of the tank is covered with dark paper the salamanders will adopt the burrows and the paper can be removed when observations are desired. A water bowl may or may not be necessary depending upon the moisture gradient in the soil. However a water bowl will help prevent deaths due to desiccation as the salamander will retreat to the water bowl if the soil becomes too dry. If a water bowl is included in the enclosure, then the water should be changed either when it is soiled or every few days with dechlorinated tap water.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feed him worms, and occasionally cricket covered with reptile calcium powder. When the weather gets back up, release that little guy close to where you found him, that will be awesome. Try some of these ideas for the enclosure

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/setups3.shtml

Good luck, and I would love an update! Email me anytime at MarkMark6464@yahoo.com .
-----
Mark B.

[ Show Entire Thread ]