[Wanted] Isthmura bellii male

Looking for an isthmura male for my female

Let me know if you'd ever part with that female or know where to get any Isthmura.

Yeah unfortunately I just recently acquired them, and very quickly lost my male, so I wouldn't part with her unless someone had a male, and then offered me first dibs on babies

No problem! Fyi you probably know but they are VERY hard to breed, only 2 people in the U.S. have ever had success and they produce little offspring. But if you treat them for disease and get them comfortably established them I think you would have decent success. Also people think that since they are "tropical" they don't need to be cooled for winter but is far from the truth

Originally Posted by radbackedsalamander

Fyi you probably know but they are VERY hard to breed, only 2 people in the U.S. have ever had success and they produce little offspring.

Then where would one suppose more stock would come from?

Oh I'm pretty aware of their rarity, and I've done a lot of research on their point of origin - I knew they were difficult to breed but I did not however know that only two people had bred them. Do you have any contact info on these people?

I'm willing to bet that light cycles play more of an important role than some people believe. Obviously many caudates, including these, spend a lot of time underground or in cover, but I almost bred my California newts completely indoors with a dedicated light cycle and cooling period.

Originally Posted by Socratic Monologue

Then where would one suppose more stock would come from?

Sadly all are illegally smuggled (even the ones zoos buy), me personally I am strongly against buying them. My only exception is if they were already kept by another owner who is passing it on to a new owner. Same situation for Bolitoglossa dofleini.

Besides Newts and Axolotls you can expect that almost any salamander you buy will be wild caught unless you personally contact a breeder.

Originally Posted by Roughskinned

I'm willing to bet that light cycles play more of an important role than some people believe. Obviously many caudates, including these, spend a lot of time underground or in cover, but I almost bred my California newts completely indoors with a dedicated light cycle and cooling period.

Let me know if you will ever part with your offspring, I'll be in line. Taricha are awesome and want some but I don't want to buy them WC, I know Micheal Shrom one year has cbb Taricha granulosa but I missed the chance. Also I do agree with light cycles, that is why a lot of people in Europe have success with outdoor Ambystoma enclosures.

Originally Posted by Roughskinned

Oh I'm pretty aware of their rarity, and I've done a lot of research on their point of origin - I knew they were difficult to breed but I did not however know that only two people had bred them. Do you have any contact info on these people?

Jay Sommers is one of them, but he is basically impossible to really contact. And he is considered one of the most advanced US keepers for caudates. He was the one who said there was only 1 other person who has bred them but he didn't release any names and honestly I have no clue who it could be. There is only 1 person besides Jay that I know who has bred latin american salamanders and that person doesn't work with Isthmura of any kind.

Yeah that’s exactly where I got mine from - another owner. It’s a shame so few people work with them - they could really use some captive breeding efforts. But anyways, I’m patient enough - if you see any, please let me know.