Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im thinking about possibly getting a siren or an amphiuma, but im probably getting a siren. I used to own a siren but I didnt really know how to take care of it and I moved so I had to get rid of it. I dont really know much about what their needs are in captivity. what do people feed? Do you need to have any kind of hiding place for them in their tank? any info is appreciated.

I got a siren a long while back. I run into the same problem you have to find information on them. What I did find is they as a species have a very wide variation of possible food items. I quickly learned however the individuals however can be picky. I know a few nature centers that keep them so I spoke to them about them. The most help I found was just thinking about how they live in the wild. I keep mine in a 20L aquarium. The water level varies from a few inches to almost full depending on how many displays or presentations I do with it cuz I pour the new water in with it after the display. Of course the only real specialized treatment it gets is "NO CLORINE" water. I have a handfull of moss I threw in with it and it has fell apart and just clouded the water. Obviously this kind of animal just loves that. I have seen them in clear water displayed so I'm sure thats fine. If the water is clear I'd offer it something to hide under or in. Mine happens to like shrimp. I first fed it live ghost shrimp. Then moved to freeze dried krill. I sometimes throw aquatic turtle pellets in but I don't know if it eats them or not. I think a big trick to feeding these things is to not over feed them. The have unbelivably slow metabolisms. They can live over two years burried in mud. Good luck I really like mine and will likely get the other species to display along with the one I have.