Fire salamander questions

[Will0W783]

Hi guys,

I was at the Oaks reptile show today and planned to get some frogs to set up a colony so I can scent mouse pinkies with frog secretions to feed young vipers.
I found two great big, adorable frogs, and I also saw some fire salamanders. I'd never seen such large, beautiful salamanders, so I asked if one could be housed with the frogs and the vendor said yes.

I have a dumpy tree frog, a white-lipped tree frog and the gravid female fire salamander. They are in a large Exo-Terra in my viper room, which ranges up to about 75-78F during the day and drops to 70-73F at night.
I have a water substrate with moss "islands" and several fake plants for climbing on.
A misting system is set to mist for 8 seconds every 4 hours to keep things humid and provide fresh drinking water.

Any other suggestions? I know crickets are good food for the frogs, and that I can get some blood worms from a bait shop for the salamander. Any other good food items? This is my first foray into salamanders, and I'd like her to do well for me. She's very pretty!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140112_144018_zpsydzqriq2.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140112_144018_zpsydzqriq2.jpg.html)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140112_144033_zpsajh2psyo.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140112_144033_zpsajh2psyo.jpg.html)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140112_143944_zpswods7l6t.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140112_143944_zpswods7l6t.jpg.html)

[athms]

Bad idea fire salamanders secret this milky white sticky stuff that is poisonous to other animals. But she is pretty

[Starbuck]

Ive read of people setting up tiger slamanders with burrowing areas, im not sure if your fire salamander would use it but I might try a retreat set up with sphagnum moss or coconut fiber so it has a retreat

[Will0W783]

Ok thanks. There are multiple hiding areas within moss and in the Mayan sculpture thing in the back. I know that they can secrete salamandrine when stressed, but the frogs stay pretty much up on the sides and the salamander in the bottom. I'm hoping it will be ok.

[Will0W783]

athms, should I put her in her own enclosure?

[Deva]

I see someone beat me to warn you to not house the frog (or any other animal) with the salamanders. It is really not a good idea.

I have two fire salamanders in a 10 gallon terrarium. I have kept them for about six months. They should be in their own enclosure, with moss and soil they can burrow under. Keep the place as cool as possible. Mine are near the central Air vent.

I have tried to feed my salamanders earthworms, but they do not eat them. The only food I have been successful with is crickets, so I dust them with vitamins/minerals about once a month before feeding. Otherwise, its crickets twice a week.

A picture:

http://i.imgur.com/AniHCWG.jpg

[poison123]

I agree with what has already been said. I would also raise your day time temps to the low to mid 80's for the frogs.

[Deva]

The salamanders would ideally like to be in 60 - 70 degrees F. No higher. I can only achieve about 71, but they have survived. The cooler the better. I have even put ice packs in their enclosure periodically.

[Will0W783]

Ok, Thank you guys. I will set her up in her own enclosure.

[mclund]

I know it's been said, but I want to chime in. Watch the temps, they really thrive at 70 degrees. Something that is hard to maintain in south Florida.

[mclund]

The salamanders would ideally like to be in 60 - 70 degrees F. No higher. I can only achieve about 71, but they have survived. The cooler the better. I have even put ice packs in their enclosure periodically.


Props to you Deva. I see you are also keeping a Tiger. Another one that hates it hot. I worked with some that would take small beef right off a pair of tongs. Very cool salamanders. Just got to keep them cool.

[Will0W783]

Cool, thanks guys! I really appreciate all the input. I'm kind of frustrated that I can't house them together, as I was trying to set up a nice multi-species display cage to house amphibians, but it is what it is. I'd rather the salamander be happy and healthy. I"m going to get more moss today while I'm out to move her to her own enclosure.

[poison123]

If you really wanna do a multi-species enclosure then look into reed frogs and mantellas or poison dart frogs.

[Will0W783]

I had thought about poison dart frogs, but I chose the dumpy frog and white-lipped because they are larger and hardier. I need to use the frogs to rub pinkies on them to get baby vipers started.

I honestly only bought the salamander because it was pretty and I had been told by the vendor it could live with the frogs. It's not a huge deal separating her though. I have spare tanks around that can be set up for her. I also have a spare bedroom that sits about 68-72F. My Atheris ceratophora live in there. There is room for me to stick the salamander in there to keep her cooler and happier. I would not have bought her if I thought they couldn't live together, but that's what I get for buying something I hadn't planned on and hadn't researched!

I was home sick yesterday, but am off to get moss and set up a new tank for her today.

[Will0W783]

Ok, I've got her set up in a large Critter Keeper with two large water dishes, one on either end and cypress mulch built up in between and around them. She also has sphagnum moss and fake leaves in the enclosure. I tossed in some crickets and she's happily chasing them around right now.

The room she is now in ranges from 65-73F, depending on the sunlight. There's no heat on her, so hopefully she is healthier and happier now. :)

[Will0W783]

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140116_151949_zpstxvpj8wy.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-01/20140116_151949_zpstxvpj8wy.jpg.html)

[Deva]

Ok, I've got her set up in a large Critter Keeper with two large water dishes, one on either end and cypress mulch built up in between and around them. She also has sphagnum moss and fake leaves in the enclosure. I tossed in some crickets and she's happily chasing them around right now.

The room she is now in ranges from 65-73F, depending on the sunlight. There's no heat on her, so hopefully she is healthier and happier now. :)

That sounds good! She's off to a great start. Please, no direct sun, no heat, keep as close to the 65-69 range as possible. I have live plants, so must have a plant light, but I chose a type doesn't put out much heat.

[poison123]

Pothos does very well in low light.

[Will0W783]

I am using fake plants so I don't have to put light on her. I placed her in an area that doesn't get too much sunlight. I don't have any heat on her; it is the coolest room in my house so whatever the room temperature is, she will be at. It seems to range between 65-72F.

I'm hoping she does well now, and can have her babies in comfort. I've never seen baby salamanders so this should be an interesting experience for me. I might get a male salamander at some point, but for now I'm just enjoying this one.

For others that keep them, do you guys handle them at all?

[Deva]

I don't like to handle mine. Sometimes I need to dig them out if I haven't seen them in awhile to make sure they are OK. Unless they are finding food, I usually don't see them. I have two of them, but don't know what sex they are. They seem to like to be together. I think they are too small to be fully adult yet.

[Will0W783]

Ok, I don't plan to handle it very often.