Fire Salamander

[catfishrod69]

Just picked this little fella up today. Always wanted a salamander, even though this is a type of newt.

 

[Najakeeper]

These guys come out to feed right in front of my house pretty much every night after rain except for winter. I love'em, they are quite cute and look like miniature Gila Monsters .

 

[Entomancer]

Make sure to keep it really cool.

I've never had one, but I've heard that they do poorly above 65 degrees F. That might be for the more montane species/subspecies, but I would at least try to keep the enclosure below 68.

They, unlike some of the other "newts", are also highly terrestrial and tend not to use water dishes in captivity.

 

[Galapoheros]

Yeah those catch my eye every time I see a pic of one, thought about getting one too. Are you sure about the "newt" thing? I'm just not getting newt vibes from these at all. You have a link? I've always been interested in salamanders but I don't have any at the moment. The siren I had for years finally ran out of energy.

 

[Entomancer]

Newts, technically, are the genera/species of caudate amphibian belonging to family salamandridae.

However, newts are generally considered to only be the aquatic/semi-aquatic members of that family, such as the red-spotted newt complex of the eastern US, the genus Taricha of the western US, and the many aquatic salamandrids of asia and europe.

 

[Najakeeper]

They like cool nights for sure. Night temps rarely go above 15 degrees Celsius in here and they do fine.

They would need decent humid leaf litter to hide in and high humidity.

 

[catfishrod69]

That would be really cool to have these native, and that close. The closest things i have around are the mudpuppies. But ive only seen a couple of them. And they sure do look like little gilas .

These guys come out to feed right in front of my house pretty much every night after rain except for winter. I love'em, they are quite cute and look like miniature Gila Monsters .

---------- Post added 09-20-2013 at 03:12 AM ----------

Yep for sure. Temps must be kept low or it will stress and kill it. He has a water bowl, and from what ive read if its just a shallow one, he will soak in it.

Make sure to keep it really cool.

I've never had one, but I've heard that they do poorly above 65 degrees F. That might be for the more montane species/subspecies, but I would at least try to keep the enclosure below 68.

They, unlike some of the other "newts", are also highly terrestrial and tend not to use water dishes in captivity.

---------- Post added 09-20-2013 at 03:14 AM ----------

You should get one man. They are pretty cool, and get alot larger than what i thought. 8-12 inches. I read on wiki that they are actually newts. I always wanted a siren. Ive kept a mudpuppy before, and he was pretty awesome.

Yeah those catch my eye every time I see a pic of one, thought about getting one too. Are you sure about the "newt" thing? I'm just not getting newt vibes from these at all. You have a link? I've always been interested in salamanders but I don't have any at the moment. The siren I had for years finally ran out of energy.

 

[catfishrod69]

Well turns out this little creature isnt much of a eater, if at all. It regurdetated half a eaten lateralis, and a whole lateralis a day after eating them. Weird thing is the whole lateralis lived! I tried tossing in some crickets being thats what the pet store fed him, but that doesnt seem to help much. Ive checked the temps and they seem just right. But for some reason he just isnt interested in eating. If he doesnt start soon, ill end up losing him .

 

[Galapoheros]

Do you think it's cool enough? I remember having some salamanders from up north years ago and I kept them too warm, didn't last long.

You might try keeping it outside temporarily, fresh air and weather, see how it does.

 

[beetleman]

definitly keep it cool,very moist,lots of hiding places,try feeding small earthworms,they seem to relish them hope this helps alittle,they are awesome animals and can live a very long time.

 

[catfishrod69]

Well unfortunately i think he has passed. I took him out to see if he was responsive, and all i got was a little bit of tail twitching. Outside would have been out of the question cause its getting down to freezing now. I was keeping him in 60-70F temps. It varied throughout the day. But i was using my temp gun to make sure they were always low. At first he was very active, and digging alot, but then became lethargic and wouldnt eat at all. Sad to see him go, as he was so calm and beautiful. I should have known better than to get him. Im just completely done with reptiles and amphibians. Aside from the few snakes i have, i wont be getting any creatures like this anymore.

 

[Balvala]

You don't think that perhaps this might be due to hibernation? I know that they do tend to go through this from October until March depending on the temperatures of the surrounding area (as well as during the warmer months,) however I don't know much more about these critters to contribute well enough otherwise. I really hope you haven't lost him, my friend.

 

[MatthewM1]

Most cases in which I've heard of amphibians vomiting their food, it ended up being an internal parasite.

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[catfishrod69]

Well being his temps are still the same as normal, he shouldnt be trying to hibernate. And his tail started getting skinny, and his rear hip bones started protruding. Im pretty positive he is gone though .

You don't think that perhaps this might be due to hibernation? I know that they do tend to go through this from October until March depending on the temperatures of the surrounding area (as well as during the warmer months,) however I don't know much more about these critters to contribute well enough otherwise. I really hope you haven't lost him, my friend.

---------- Post added 11-05-2013 at 10:45 AM ----------

Very well could be that.

Most cases in which I've heard of amphibians vomiting their food, it ended up being an internal parasite.

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[Introvertebrate]

Sorry for your loss. Wild caught reptiles and amphibians usually have about a 50% survival rate.

 

[mmfh]

That stinks. They are so cute, sorry it didn't make it for you. I have some newts and the only thing I can get them to eat are Canadian nightcrawlers lol, they won't eat earthworms at all. Give it another try

 

[catfishrod69]

Thanks! Im glad your able to get your newts to eat. I used to catch newts at a small water hole all the time when i was younger. I doubt ill be getting anymore critters like that. I have enough inverts to keep me happy. Although i am keeping my eye on a special little species of gecko!

That stinks. They are so cute, sorry it didn't make it for you. I have some newts and the only thing I can get them to eat are Canadian nightcrawlers lol, they won't eat earthworms at all. Give it another try

 

[Galapoheros]

Hey catfish, I think it might be that they 'need' a hibernating period. I even cool down the local pedes and Ts a little around here in the winter. What about getting one of these? http://www.photoblip.com/pictures/92951/the-satanic-leaf-tailed-gecko-with-flying-fox-wings.html

 

[catfishrod69]

Very well could be man. Weird that he would have starved himself to death though. Lol that would be totally awesome! I have always wanted a mini-dragon!

 

[BrettG]

Which gecko,John?