This fire salamader care sheet section is intended as an introduction to keeping the most common type of Salamander, the Fire Salamander and Tiger Salamander.
These animals are amphibians (like frogs) despite thier lizard like appearance.
Fire Salamander Care Sheet
Fire Salamanders are quite fat amphibians getting to between 8 and 12 inches in length. Their skin is very delicate and feels like rubber.
This is a ‘standard’ pet sal.
Salamander Substrate
The tank base should be covered in a layer of either orchid bark or compost on top of which is a further layer of fresh and preferably live moss.
This needs to be kept evenly damp at all times.
The Salamander may choose to hide under the moss or in a cave that you suppy.
Water For Fire Salamander
A large shallow (no more than 2 inches deep) water bowl should be provided but this should either have some pebbles at one end or be made with a stepped area to allow the salamander to get in and out easily.
Here I have left an area the size of the water bowl that has no moss so the bowl will be sunk in to the moss rather than sitting on the surface.
You will notice that I have also surrounded the pool with smooth fairly large pebbles, this is more for aesthetics than anything.
Most Salamanders should be provided with a cave or cork chunk to form a hiding area, the Salamander may choose to use it or may just hide under the mossy surface.
Feeding Salamanders
Salamanders will take almost all the commercially available foods but don’t feed mealworms or waxworms as these have very strong jaes and could potentially chew their way out of the salamander.
I use medium/large crickets (any type) that have been gut loaded with Bug Grub and then dusted with vitamin and mineral powder once a week.
They should be fed 3 – 4 crickets every other day.
If yous Salamander is a very large one or a Tiger Salamander then you can try to feed them with a defrosted pinkie mouse.
Leave a Reply