Reptile & Amphibian Forums

From what I understand mudpuppies do not turn into land salamanders and stay fully aquatic?

Thanks.
Fleck

true, but when the water that they stay in becomes low, they become terrestrial while looking for a new home.

During rainstorms. This is not transformation to terrestriality as occurs with some other species such as tiger salamander larva.
In fact treating mudpuppies with hormones to attempt to get them to transform can kill them as they cannot transform (the same for Sirens, and Pseudobranchus).

Ed

Posted by: EdK at Sun Jan 23 19:59:50 2005 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

During rainstorms. This is not transformation to terrestriality as occurs with some other species such as tiger salamander larva.
In fact treating mudpuppies with hormones to attempt to get them to transform can kill them as they cannot transform (the same for Sirens, and Pseudobranchus).

Ed

I dont understand. So they do change (which I dont want so ofcourse wont use ant hormones) or they dont change?
thanks.
Fleck

They do not.

Ed

Great thanks.
Fleck

Ed, how often do they make such terrestrial excursions? I've always viewed pudmuppies as living in permanent bodies of water. I'm going to look for beyeri this weekend. Hopefully netting the leaf beds and ten minnow traps will pay off.
Shane

Posted by: AlbinoPhoenix at Sun Jan 23 14:16:06 2005 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

true, but when the water that they stay in becomes low, they become terrestrial while looking for a new home.

I intend to house it in a 55 gallon with full water tight screen lid and decorations like driftwood,river gravel. Cool water and good aeration. under those conditions will it change?
My friend had a water dog which changed in Spring to great looking tiger salamander but change is not what I want. I wanted fully aquatic if possible.
Thanks.
Fleck

They do not become truly terrestrial which would require that they lose the gills, have a change in the permeability of the skin as well as other morphological features.
The fact that they occasionally crawl on land for a short period of time does not indicate they become terrestrial.

Ed

Posted by: EdK at Tue Jan 25 17:25:37 2005 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

They do not become truly terrestrial which would require that they lose the gills, have a change in the permeability of the skin as well as other morphological features.
The fact that they occasionally crawl on land for a short period of time does not indicate they become terrestrial.

Ed

Great thanks.
Fleck