Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My sons found a 7 inch spotted salamander today. They would like to keep it, but we're not sure what to put in the terrarium or how moist to have it. Any help?

Blue

Hello, I just got(bought) one too.. Very pretty animals.. These guys are fairly easy to keep in captivity.. The bare basics, 5 or 10 gal tank aquarium, screen lid, dirt for substrate, water bowl, some kind of hiding space and of course, food...

Since you found the spotted, you could use the dirt outside for the substrate(bedding) Moist but not too wet.

You can use any shallow plant saucer for water bowl, not too deep, so it can soak in.. Make sure you de-clorinate the water, since they absorb the water throught their skin...

Hiding places can be small pieces of bark, plants, etc. Try to make it natural looking, for you and the salamander.

Food, small earthworms, crickets, waxworms are all good. I do not like using mealworms with small amphibians, but some do feed them..

Try not to handle it too much, the oils/salts in OUR skin is absorbed into theirs and can do damage to them.. If you do, wet your hands down BEFORE touching salamander, and wash hands AFTERWARDS..

Hope this helps. Spotted salamanders are great first pet sallies, hardy, live long, and should do very well with correct care..

Harpy
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Have You Hugged Your Herp Today?

Agree with sallie keeper, they are neat. I found mine almost four years ago (he's a tiger sal). I keep him in the guest room bathroom. Try to keep it cool. In winter, I shut the furnace vent so there's no heat in that room. A little tough on any guests, but much better for Jaws.
If you keep him in a 10-gal. aquarium, a single-serve frozen lasagna dish makes a great water dish. (OK, now you know what kind of cook I am!) It fits real nice in one end, leaves plenty of land space, is easy to keep clean if yours is a water pig like mine.
I feed crickets, earthworms, meal worms. (I cut off the heads and little sticky front legs. Don't know if that is really necessary but it just seemed like a good idea...)
I completely change the dirt about every 6 weeks or so.
Enjoy!

"in the guest room bathroom"

That comment is so great! I really appreciate it only because I have a well over 4 foot iguana who also shares part of my bedroom, in his own enclusure of course! Some people say they have watch dogs. Then there's a minute few, (OK maybe a VERY minute few) of us who might go the extra mile and say he's the "attack lizzard" of our home. Shshsh, he's really very gentle, but don't tell. LOL The guest bathroom is probably the perfect spot for your sallie because you are noticing that he heeds cooler temps. Good luck with him!

Thanks. He is such a hoot. I've had him for almost four years. He is VERY tame. Takes food from my hand, and tries to take my fingers if there's no food!
One of my stepdaughters came for a visit. Didn't stay long. I think she was a bit unnerved because, every time she went into the bathroom, Jaws would leap against the glass and snap his jaws (hence the name).
I have six stepchildren. None have come to visit overnight since then.
In my opinion, Jaws has definitely earned his keep!

I have two Spotted Salamanders (among a few other species) that seem to be doing very well. I keep mine in a plastic storage box about the size of a 15 gal tank. They are made by a company called Iris and have snaps for the lid. I cut the bulk of the lid out and hot glued screen over it. I found that inadequate ventilation caused major mold problems. I concur with the other responce about the plant saucer and I use these with all my terrestrial caudates. Get the terra cotta (clay) saucers from the home or hardware store (get a few). When used as a water bowl they slowly seep and keep the soil around them moist (be sure to refill as needed). Some leak a lot faster than others. I also recomend getting a new spray bottle to mist them with daily. I use broken pottery for hides and the sallies often dig into the substrate under these. I feed mine crickets but rarely see them eat as they hunt at night. I just keep a watch on their weight. You may catch them roaming at night or you may have to dig them up once in awhile. I augment their diet on occasion with night crawlers.