Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I rescued it from my sisters basement window well and I've been into reptiles and amphibians for years (I own 1.2.0 Leopard Geckos, 1.0.0 Saharan Uromastyx, 1.0.0 Frilled Dragon currently). I would like to know if amphibians like this Tiger Sally are like their reptile cousins in that they need a few days to settle into their new habitat (20 gallon long I had laying around) before I should try to feed it? I read about 5 different care sheets and set up my tank so it can dig and it has places to dig under and a nice 2" deep dish of water for it to soak in. I think this thing has been down in the window well of my sisters basement for like over a month but it still seems pretty chubby and now that its in a humid environment it seems pretty active (for a salamander).

Should I wait a few days not messing with it to give it time to adjust or should I try right away to feed it? I know with toads Ive kept in the past, they will do after ANYTHING that moves, but this guy seems kinda freaked out by the whole ordeal.

It couldn't hurt to let him settle for a few days. If you must feed him, give him earthworms; if he doesn't want them, they'll just burrow in and be available at some later date.

>>It couldn't hurt to let him settle for a few days. If you must feed him, give him earthworms; if he doesn't want them, they'll just burrow in and be available at some later date.>>

I agree that it will not hurt to let it settle for a few days. Tiger salamanders are voracious feeders, but they don't get to feed regularly most of the year since they are often forced underground by prolonged dry seasons over much of their ranges. Tiger salamanders will eat earthworms or just about anything that moves, but crickets seem to be an important part of their diet in the wild.

The only trouble with crickets in this instance would be that if the tiger doesn't eat them, they will die and foul the tank or water dish, or possibly even attack the salamander. I feed my tigers crickets all the time, but I watch to be sure they eat them all; this might not be a good idea with a skittish new animal.

>>The only trouble with crickets in this instance would be that if the tiger doesn't eat them, they will die and foul the tank or water dish, or possibly even attack the salamander. I feed my tigers crickets all the time, but I watch to be sure they eat them all; this might not be a good idea with a skittish new animal.>>

I wouldn't worry about the cricket attacking the salamander. I have seen one tiger salamander bite another (by accident), and the bitten salamander sometimes returns the favor by biting back. The cricket is history if the salamander bites back.

Cool this thing is eating crickets now. He's definately not a hunter what so ever, lol. He just sits there and waits for one to get close and chomps it. The guy is only about 5 inches STL so he's got a lot of growing to go.

Another question, can these guys see Red light? I got a really low watt heat lamp I'm using at night because the area he's in drops pretty cold at night (with the lamp on it doesn't get above 70ºF in the cage) but I don't want to make him think it's always day time.

Take the heat lamp out. Below 70 F is ideal; these guys, like most salamanders, prefer it cool.

Yea after rereading the care guides I took it out a few hours after my post. It just seems so bloody cold for a cold blooded animal, lol.

When I first got him he was super skinny and after a few days on some crickets and a few earth worms, this guy looks almost bloated in comparison to how I found him. These were his first meals in easily a month if not longer and he's springing back pretty well.

Do they ever come out in the day time so I can see him, or will he just be coming out when its dark?

Thanks for all the help. I'll get a picture of him up later tonight when he's out.

Speak of the devil! He was out just after I posted the last message here. I snapped a quick pic. He's by no means fully grown, but he looks pretty healthy for being trapped in a window well for over a month.

>>Speak of the devil! He was out just after I posted the last message here. I snapped a quick pic. He's by no means fully grown, but he looks pretty healthy for being trapped in a window well for over a month.
>>

That is a nice looking barred tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium. These animals have to come out at night most of the time because they cannot tolerate the hot temperatures and direct sun of daylight hours. During the dry season, they are usually deep underground, usually inside rodent burrows, and they can and must go for months without feeding.