As a matter of fact, salamanders have lovely faces, as well as it is certain that they are relatively easy to care for - assuming you know how to do it correctly. wikiHow is here to help you with the latter (salamanders don't need help being cute and cool after all). Read on to learn the best way to care for a salamander.
Note: If you are looking for information on how to care for an aquatic newt, read this article.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Creating the Right Environment
Step 1. Use an aquarium or terrarium to house your salamander
Aquariums or reptile terrariums are perfect for hosting your dear 'sal'. You should use an aquarium of around 40 liters, which will give your salamander enough space to hide, dig and sleep all day. The aquarium is preferable to the terrarium for aquatic and semi-aquatic salamanders. Make sure you clean it thoroughly before creating habitat for your salamander.
You can also use plastic or acrylic terrariums if you don't want to buy a glass terrarium
Step 2. Make sure it has a lid that closes properly
Salamanders are excellent climbers, it will take little time to climb a 40 liter terrarium. For this, it is important to have a lid that closes the terrarium tightly to prevent it from escaping. A mesh cover is your best bet which will also provide excellent ventilation.
If you can't find a mesh cover, an aquarium cover will do just as well
Step 3. Determine if your salamander needs an aquatic, semi-aquatic or terrarium burrow
This depends on the type of salamander you will buy. If in doubt, ask the pet shop or search the internet.
- Aquatic salamanders, such as the Axolotl, spend their entire life in water.
- Semi-aquatic salamanders should have a half aquatic and half terrestrial habitat.
- Terrestrial salamanders do not need an aquatic environment in which to live.
Step 4. Set up the lair
Again, the choice between terrarium and aquarium depends on the type of salamander you have. Remember, these steps are just general guides, you can get creative as much as you want with your terraio.
- Aquarium: You should use an aquarium to house an aquatic salamander. Spread 5 cm of clean aquarium sand on the bottom. Gradually recline the aquarium to create a bit of a drop in some places. Add some aquatic plants, but be aware that you will need to replace them every now and then because salamanders can be violent with aquatic plants.
- Semi-aquatic terrarium: Divide the aquarium with a sheet of plexiglass so that one side is aquatic and the other terrestrial. Add 5cm of aquarium sand to the aquatic side, along with some aquatic seedlings. Create a gradual slope with the sand so that the salamander can pass from the water to the land. On the terrestrial part, pour 2 inches of aquarium sand and cover it with organic mulch, which should then include chopped bark or coconut fibers. Cover this last layer with plant soil.
- Terrarium: recreates the terrestrial habitat indicated for the semi-aquatic terrarium over the entire surface. Add plants and moss.
Step 5. Provide the land salamander with a bowl of water
It is best to be relatively small and shallow, as land salamanders are not very good swimmers, and some may even drown in a bowl of deep water.
Step 6. Add hiding places
No matter what type of salamander you have, you should still ensure it has good hiding places. Salamanders can be subject to a lot of stress, so it's good that they have places to retreat to to relax. Small hollow rocks, pot shards, large pieces of bark will do, or buy synthetic structures suitable for this purpose at a pet store.
Step 7. Clean the tank regularly
Grab the pet with gloves on and put it in a place where it can stay safe while you do the cleaning. Thoroughly scrub the tank and all the decoration elements with hot water and dry everything before putting your salamander back in.
Part 2 of 4: Lighting and Heating
Step 1. Use a broad spectrum lamp for your salamander
Do not place the terrarium directly in sunlight, as it will heat up excessively. Use a timer to have the light turn on and off to coincide with the natural light of the salamander's habitat. This means making the 'days' and 'nights' longer or shorter depending on the season so that the salamander can live as if it were free.
Step 2. Set the most suitable temperature for the salamander
The temperature to be set depends on the type of amphibian. Salamanders living in a temperate climate will not need heating, while tropical and semi-tropical species will need a warm environment. Ask your pet dealer or search the internet to find out at what temperature to let your salamander live. And make sure that one part of the terrarium is always warmer than the other. To set the right temperature use one of the following products.
- Aquarium Heater: This type of heater is immersion and will heat the water while also increasing the humidity in the aquarium.
- Adhesive heating mat: can be placed under one side of the terrarium.
- Warming Spotlight: You should be careful with heaters of this type as they can kill the plants in your terrarium. You will also need to adjust the amount of heat released by the lamp.
Part 3 of 4: Health and Care
Step 1. Provide the salamander with filtered water
You will need to filter the water regularly. You can buy a constant circulation filter or fix a filter in other ways.
Land salamanders also need filtered water. You can give them filtered tap water to remove chlorine and limescale. You can also use still bottled water
Step 2. Do not take the salamander with your bare hands
While her adorable face may lead you to want to pick her up, you should avoid doing it without the right precautions. The sebum on people's skin can make salamanders sick. In turn, these amphibians can transmit diseases to you through their secretions. So it's best for everyone to avoid direct contact.
If you find yourself having to take the salamander (for example to help it in the event of an accident or when you choose it), wash your hands with very hot water and be sure to rinse all the soap thoroughly
Step 3. Allow your salamander to hibernate
Salamanders accustomed to colder climates take refuge underground for the winter months. While it can be depressing to have a terrarium indoors, if salamanders don't hibernate they generally die younger.
Part 4 of 4: Power
Step 1. Know that salamanders are nocturnal animals
Because of this, it is best to feed them at night, when they are most active. Set an alarm when you first bring the salamander home, or you may forget to feed it.
Step 2. Feed the salamander two or three times a week
Keep in mind that they may not eat for the first few days they spend in their new home. Salamanders get nervous easily and when introduced to a new environment they take a few days to adapt. Some salamanders, however, will quickly settle down and eat with gusto from day one.
If you bought a salamander puppy, you should feed it every day until it stops growing and acquires the adult form
Step 3. Provide your salamander with a balanced diet
Salamanders are carnivorous and prefer to hunt their prey. So you should give them live prey. If you have to buy them dead, frozen prey is preferable to dried ones. Salamanders like:
- Live worms, earthworms (available at bait stores), diptera and crickets (which can be bought at pet stores), caterpillars and live snails. They also eat frozen dipterans, but you'll need to move them around the terrarium to get the salamander's attention.
- Give your aquatic salamander some brine shrimp. You can also feed her on daphnia and sea flea specimens.
Step 4. Check how much your salamander eats
Generally, a salamander will simply stop eating when full. The amount of food you eat is up to you. During the first few days, offer her a set amount of prey (choose a number) and then come back to check her after a few hours. If there are still worms or crickets lying around, it means your salamander doesn't need that much food.
Remember that spotted salamanders and tiger salamanders become obese easily if you overfeed
Step 5. Remove food scraps from the terrarium
If your salamander hasn't eaten all of its food after a few hours, it means it's full. Remove any remaining prey, otherwise they may try to annoy or bite the salamander.
If you have an aquatic species of salamander, always remember to clean up any leftover food from the water or you risk getting dirty and mold growing on it
Advice
- A 40 liter terrarium is perfect for any salamander. Provides enough space for water and places to hide, as well as food and water containers if needed.
- Salamanders love shady, humid places.
- Do not put anything sharp in the terrarium. The salamander has delicate skin and could be injured easily.
- Wash your hands before and after touching the salamander.
- You may find a stash of worms in your yard, or you can buy them at a cheap fish bait shop.
Warnings
- If you keep the terrarium outdoors, make sure it is not in direct sunlight.
- Our skin is toxic to salamanders. Avoid touching them.
