Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok. Every week I go to my uncles house (He's crippled) and near his house is a river. Small one but my dad told me that when he was young there were crayfish, frogs, toads, fish and he said he is pretty sure he found salamanders. My guess is that they are two lines. So can I mix them with other things I find in the river? I plan on feeding the Two lines pill bugs and nightcrawlers. I have a ten gallon that should be good for a lot of the two-lines. I also plan on breeding them.

Two-lines are small sallies being mostly tail. They may be 6"-7" long but they are small. They are also lungless. They absorb their oxygen through their skin. Even though you may find them along streams and creeks(either just off the waters edge or in the water just offshore) they are not totally aquatic. I have found them and their kin(long-tails) many yards from water. Pillbugs and nightcrawlers are TOO big of food items for these sallies. Maybe if the pillbugs 1/16"-1/8" long. But crawlers no way. Maybe tiny red wigglers(red worms or earthworms). To keep well in captivity you would need a good size tank with some land and some flowing water(like a stream or creek), good flat rocks(in water and land) for them to hide under, moist wet peat moss or a peat/sand mix. I kept 2 long-tails in a 55 set up like a stream water edge. It was very heavy and time consuming to clean. You can try a smaller tank but the smaller it is the more difficult it is to similate that type of enviroment. These are just my opinions and experiences with these types of salamanders. If someone keeps these in a 5 gallon tank and are fine, then by all means go for it.
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"I am all that is Divine, I am all that is Evil.
I am the one who brings forth Death,
On the wings of a Weevil." JSKII

I was thinking the same thing. A 10 gallon might do well for a single small salamander but simulating ideal conditions would be difficult. The less than ideal "damp moss, low hiding place, water bowl type setup" might get you by, but I doubt breeding will ever take place. Never settle for minimal conditions, and if they are necessary, consider them temporary