fish_4_all said:
I do have a few questions if you don't mind. :wink:
I am just curious if you have a place that your sally can hide out of the water? I have never kept them but would really like to know if it is actually needed. What temperature do you keep the tank at and how? I saw that you said a 10 gallon is going to be too small for 2 sally. Is this just so they have room or for the idea of water quality and other functions of the tank?
What type of fogger are you using?
I do have alocal store I still need to go to and get some help but first hand is always a good thing. The more ideas and ways I see it done the better chance I have of making it works for me. Never heard of the species nor have I been able to find it but I do know that a lot of amphibians and reptiles can give you "salmonella" which can be a really nasty disease. If it is a species, would love to see a picture.
One other questions bettababy. I found a species online and couldn't get the name. It was in the category of those that keep their gills through their entire life and was completely white except for the orange/red in the gills. Any idea what the name of it is?
Is gonna be tough to get salamanders here as the state has made it almost completely illegal to sell any of them. Guess I will have to go on a scavenger hunt as soon as I find out which species are legal to possses.
Any chance it was Salamandra or Salamandrina?
Ok, 1 at a time, lets see if I can get these all answered without forgetting anything, lol.
Yes, there is space for him to hide out of the water. He likes to climb through the plants on the rocks near the waterfall. When I created the waterfall I made sure the structure was stable as I built it up, and that part of it would remain dry and out of the water. Then I used plants with big leaves to hang over the rocks. They need places to hide both in and out of the water. When he gets his bigger tank he'll also have an area of dirt because they like to dig. It wasn't possible in this tank, so I'm offering everything else I can for him in the mean time. In their natural habitat they tunnel through the dirt and mud most of the time. The pair I had years ago used to tunnel in the dirt under their water dish, and if you lifted the dish you could see their tunnels and nesting area.
Because this is a wild caught, I keep the temp at room temp year round. It's important to try to keep some humidity in the tank, and for this reason I have the fogger and I keep a 1/2 of a glass top over the screen to trap moisture and still allow for good air circulation. They can't get too warm or they dry out/cook. On hot summer days they are known to bury down into the ground for cooler temps. Mid to lower 70's is as warm as I'd go for a native salamander. If it's captive bred, I'd check with the breeder to find out what kind of conditions would change, if any.
The size of the tank will make a big difference. Some species of salamander will get 8+ inches, this one will usually top out around 6 - 7, but I have seen tiger salamanders as big as 10 inches already. Typically, I wouldn't use less than a 40 gallon for 1... nothing less than 75 for 2 of them. These animals are canibilistic, so keep a watch if you keep more than one together, they MUST stay the same size. If one starts to outgrow the other, they MUST be seperated asap until they catch up in size. I like hand feeding because then I know both are getting enough food and usually will grow at the same pace. Water quality is also an issue, as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate will burn the skin. Depending on how the tank is set up, if the water pool is made from a deep dish and set into the substrate/dry land, it's easy to remove once/day to clean the water. There are many ways to achieve this, but you'll want to keep the water clean. What I'm planning for my 40 gallon is to use the dish to offer the dirt part of the setup, so I can keep the water in the bottom of the tank for the guppys. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to build something or buy something. Again, many ways to accomplish this.
I'll have to check on the fogger for a make/model for you... I'll post this as soon as I get a chance.
As for mention of salmonella, it is a nasty disease, but... as long as the animal is kept very clean and people wash with soap and water, the fear of salmonella is not something of too much concern. This is usually one of the first things I stress when someone wants to buy a reptile or amphibian for a child's pet. Salmonella is found in the animal's waste, so clean means safe.
I'm going to post a pic, tell me if this is the animal you're talking about. This is called an axolotl. They are completely aquatic their entire lives, average about 8 inches full grown, and again, are canibalistic in nature, so size and space mean everything if keeping more than one. The smallest tank I'd work with for 1 is a 40 breeder so they have plenty of space to climb around and get exercise. They're dirty little things, so be forewarned there. Being the typical amphibian, they also tend to eat whatever fits into their mouths, from worms to fish... insects, insect larvae... Axolotls are cold water animals, so it will be important to keep their water temp between 65 - 70F. If you get an axolotl, be warned that it's the only animal going to be in the tank other than feeders. There isn't a fish or other amphibian that is compatible with them.
Here's a pic, tell me if this is what you were talking about...
