Marbled Salamander Care

For the length of this program each year under the guidance of the massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program we safely remove newly hatched marbled salamander larvae from winter cold vernal pools in western massachusetts raise the aquatic larvae through their transformation into air breathing juvenile salamanders and release them near suitable vernal pools in the middlesex fells.

Marbled salamander care.

Due to the terrestrial reproductive habits of marbled salamanders breeding is restricted to fish free wetlands with seasonally fluctuating. One of north america s handsomest amphibians the marbled salamander spends most of its life below ground and is often overlooked by pet keepers however captives soon give up their secretive ways and with proper care have reached age 15. This behavior helps prevent eggs from hatching too early after any unseasonal thunderstorms that temporarily flood the deeper areas of the pond. Tiger salamanders are the largest of the salamanders on our list of best pet salamanders.

At an average temperature of 18 c 65 f adult marbled salamanders will do well on a diet of four to six two week old crickets twice a week per salamander personal observation. Marbled salamander ambystoma opacum. Salamanders like all amphibians require water for reproduction. The marbled salamander a member of the mole salamander family ambystomatidae tends to occupy drier more sandy or gravelly habitat than most of pennsylvania s salamander species.

Breeding habitat marbled salamanders are one of two species of ambystoma that breed on land petranka 1998 and they are the only ambystoma species that exhibit parental care nussbaum 1985 1987. The marbled salamander ambystoma opacum is a beautiful relatively large salamander ranging from florida to southern new hampshire uniquely among the 12 salamander species native to new england. Their care requirements are also widely known meaning that even large pet stores know at least the basics of caring for these amphibians. You should use a 10 gallon 37 9 l tank as this will provide enough room for your sal to hide dig and doze his days away.

They can grow to be as big as 14 inches long. This depression is usually a reduced pond or dried bed of a ditch or temporary pond petranka 1998. Aquariums or reptile tanks are the best way to house your dear sal. These pools that dry up each summer and are refilled each winter are known as vernal pools.

However unlike most salamanders which lay their eggs in the winter or spring marbled salamanders lay their eggs in dried up pools in the fall. Aquariums tanks are best used for aquatic and semi aquatic salamanders. Use an aquarium or tank to house your salamander. Banded salamander scientific name.

When nesting female marbled salamanders generally seek out and select nest sites between the deepest and shallowest portions of the bay or pond.