Salamanders have a striking beauty and they are very famous as pets. They have a long life; some people have estimated that they live for 25 years or more. They can be tamed easily, but their sensitive skin means that they should not be handled badly. Therefore, you must know how to take care of a salamander.
A salamander is an amphibious pet and just like any other pet, you will have to take care and feed salamander on time. Here are some simple steps on how to take care of a salamander.
Instructions from the pet store
- When you buy a new salamander, make sure that you have all the necessary instructions. There are various kinds of salamanders and they will have different needs. If you have an aquatic salamander then it will always need lots of water around it. If you have a terrestrial one, it will require surface where it can dry off, like branches or rocks.
Housing
- The larval stage for the salamanders will be purely aquatic. For this, you can get an aquarium, in which you can put six inches of water along with some rocks where they can hide. Always remember that you will have to keep them at 65-70 Fahrenheit.
- You will need a good filter with good aeration, like airstone. You will have to pay special attention to the quality of water as well, especially the build-up of ammonia and keep the pH of the water in check.
- In a few months or sometimes years, the larva will start losing it gills and it will emerge from the water in an adult form. As this happens, you will have to reduce the water in the tank and increase the land area. Once this metamorphosis is complete, you will have to keep the salamander in the terrestrial tank set up.
- You will have to provide a suitable substrate for burrowing as well. Always remember that salamanders will produce a lot of waste, so you will have to clean the tank constantly. Keep a shallow dish of water inside the tank, but make sure that the dish is not more than two inches deep. Salamanders like to soak in water, so keep a small dish or you will have to clean the shallow dish regularly.
- You will not need heating for your salamanders, because they should be always kept at room temperature. Remember that the enclosure should never be wet, but the substrate has to be damp slightly. Salamanders have extremely sensitive skin and their skin can absorb chemicals instantly. Therefore, you will not need UV lightning, but you will have to maintain a light-dark cycle, which mimics their native place.
Feeding
- Salamanders have a good and healthy appetite and you must never overfeed them or they will become obese. When in larva form they will only eat aquatic invertebrates, like brine shrimp, insects, worms and small fish.
- For the adults, you can give them a selection of feeder insects, like earthworms, crickets and wax worms. You can give them wild insects, but you will have to make sure that the place from where you get the worms is not sprayed with pesticides.
Handling
- Salamanders are delicate and have sensitive skin; you must not handle salamanders unless it is necessary. There are salts and oils present in our skin and they can harm the skin of the salamander. If you are going to handle them, then you will have to wash your hands will soap, rinse well and then gently scoop up your salamander.
- Salamanders will be quiet shy initially but they will overcome this and become responsive. They will start coming to the sides of the tank once you approach the cage in anticipation for their meals. They are rewarding and beautiful pets, and will have very few demands except for varied diet and clean cage.
Tips and Warnings:
- Remember that you may need a special collection permit for your salamander. You must check with the local division of wildlife on the rules and regulations of salamanders as pets.
- Some of the salamanders will need more water as compared to others. You will have to keep the specific needs in mind when you are about to design their habitat.
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