Need Info On The Fire Salamander

[PDDM]

I recently Saw a Fire salamander on sale,for 89.99$ and i really want it,but its living in a ten gallon and etc. (at the store) i need this info(any extra info would also be nice thanks :D)

1.Tank Sieze(Gallon)
2.substrate And How Thick
3.Tempertures
4.What To feed
5.Caresheets?

Any Info Extra

[Double J]

Your best bet is to buy the book:
"Newts and Salamanders" by Frank Indiviglio. It is published in the Barrons series, and usually runs from between 8 and 15 dollars. It is the best all around book on the market in my opinion.

Though the book is upstairs (I will dig it out later), here are some general guidelines. have never had these animals in my personal collection, but I have had control over their husbandry at a reptile store I work at.

1)The tank should be at least ten gallons, though a 15 or 20 gallon long would be ideal
2) Eco-earth/bedabeast is your easiest bet for substrate.
Have it at least 3 inches thick, but 4 is better as these are fossorial salamanders (burrowers). If you are using a ten gallon tank, just use the whole brick.
3) These salamanders should be kept between 60 and 70 degrees. The basement is an ideal place to keep these animals as temps are generally more stable and cooler. Fire salamanders become clearly uncomfortable above 75 degrees, and I ahve seen them pile up onto each other when it gets a little hot. The book mentions this as well.
4) I have kept these animals on crickets. Dust them using BOTH REp-Cal CAlcium with vitamin D3 AND Rep-Cal Herptivite. Feed them 3 crickets or so every other day, and this is more than sufficicent as these animals are fairly inactive. Adults can handle full sized crickets.
5) Remember, keep these animals cool!!! Also, have at least 2 hide boxes, though more is always better. Fire's will defecate in the hides, so keep things clean, and always ofer more than one. And... always have a clean waterdish available that is large enough for them to climb into. Use either UNSOFTENED dechlorinated tap water (treaet the tapwater with dechlorinater/dechloraminator), or bottled springwater. Never use distilled in the water dishes. Keep the tank humid, but not soggy. Live plants like pothos will always do well in a tank for these animals. Using an 8 dollar fluorescent undercabnet light will work wonders for the plants, and viewing the animal while not really affecting temps too much. DO NOT USE any incandescent lights as they will overheat the salamander.
Sometimes females will come in gravid and give birth to live young. If this happens to you, let me know. I have had gravid females come in and drop off babies. Keep neonates individually, as they tend to nip off legs. I raised babies up successfully on a diet of frozen/thawed bloodworms.
Good luck, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Double J

[PDDM]

Double J Thx...Heres the Info i got,Im pretty Sure im Dealing With Salamdra salamdra Or salamdra Corsica,Ive been using this site: http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Salamandra/Salamandra_sp.shtml

The lowdown:
I Currently Have a Leo Living in A 26 gal Flatback,and an extra 10 gallon,first read the thing under this and tell me if i should put the leo in the ten gallon and let the salamander use the 26 gal:


Now Slamandra Salamandra Gets Bigger Then Salamandra Corsica(8 inches apparently) And it Says A pair of Slamandra salamandra needs a 18 x 12 x 14 inches Tank(If some one can gimme this in gallons it would be great)Now i know my 26 Is like: 30x12x14 inches,So im guessing a Pair can live in a 20 gallon???So maybe 1 Can live in A ten gallon???

Last But Not least anybody Know about the Two Types i just mentioned???

[Double J]

The tank you have is likely a ten gallon tank. Bigger is better, but the ten gallon will work. The info I gave is fairly basic, and will do the job. But... the caresheet you linked to is excellent. NAturalistic viviara are always better IMO. Leaf litter is great stuff when used in terrestraial amphibian tanks.
So, the ten gallon will be satisfactory for a pair, but if you can, go a lttle bigger. The tank they mention sounds like a 15 gallon tank. They are fairly inexpensive tanks.
Good luck.

[PDDM]

:D,Im only getting 1(so will 10 gal be good???)...Its 89.99$ but they are extremely rare Here in Quebec(first salamander ive seen),Now i have to Convince the Parents(of me lol) to get me the money before it gets sold:( Again Thx Double j For the info

[PDDM]

Heres are some final Questions:

1)After i have the Substrate(Posibly eco earth,moss and leaf litter)After I Have The Two Hides(posibly Half-Logs) and the Water Bowel...Can the rest be baicaly fake plants everywhere convering most of the tank for a tropic look+i heard there very secretive.
2)I Heard they need to be able to submerge them self in water,true?
3)Can they tolerat noise(i have tv and listen to music in my room)???
4)Can they eat:Mealworms,Silkies,Wax,Butters And Pinkie Mice???

[thunder]

fake plants are fine, but salamanders do not climb, so not too neccesary, they are more likely to bury themselves. my phibs all tolerate noise fairly well. pinkies are probably going to be too big for a salamander. silkies might also be too big. mealworms and wax worms are fine, but i like to get some crikets into the diet cuz they have less chitin (sp). i find that some individuals are also willing to take the pellets sold comercially for aquatic turtles, and this is actually a good diet for them provided that you check the ingredients, supplemented with crickets. however, not all of my salamander will eat the pellets.

[thunder]

oh, and the fire salamander i had was corsican.

[PDDM]

Now Im stuck...I also Now Want A Crested Gecko,I can only get One,I Know a breeder In The area That can Sell me 1 for 85$,whereas the Fire salamander will be bought From A Pet Store And Will Cost 89.99$ Plus Tax...Any Suggestions?Has anyone here Dealed With Salamanders and cresties???Ill Post this on The crested Board.