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I need help idnetifying this salamander

T

Troyee219

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I saw this guy while i was walking in a small dried up water hole with a bowl full of water left in it, so i helped him and i now have him in a aquarium, i acclimated him for a hour while slowly adding more and more aquarium to his water in the bag, he is still in the aquatic stage of life, i live in richmond VA if that helps
 
Yeah I know I was getting it just now my phone is being slow...
 

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It's a northern two-lined salamander larvae. It will eventually metamorphose into an adult. While northern two-lined salamanders like to live in spring seeps and can survive fully emerged, I suggest either releasing or creating a transitional habitat for him/her to metamorphose.
 
I'd recommend against releasing it if there is any risk that the salamander has come into direct or indirect contact with other captives. Pathogen transmission from captive to wild populations is something that everyone in the hobby needs to guard against, lest we harm wild populations and/or give fodder to those who would try to restrict herpetoculturists with new legislation.

And, if you're going to continue to collect wild specimens -- which I encourage you to do, if that is your interest -- please do become fluent in identifying native species. Some are protected, with good reason, and you wouldn't want to inadvertently collect a protected animal. You'll also want to know whether an animal can reasonably be kept in captivity, or whether it should be left to its own devices.
 
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I am a big fish keeper and know some stuff about sals, but i usually dont collect them, i would like to know how i could make my 10 gallon tank WITH fish work?, and if not i will try to get a bin of some type and try to make a semi aquatic habitat, but it would be hard... I dont believe i have a bin or container i can put him in for the transition, what is the minimum size container you would recommend?
 
Socratic Monologue said:
I'd recommend against releasing it if there is any risk that the salamander has come into direct or indirect contact with other captives.
Click to expand...

Good point. I assumed this was a fresh aquarium that was created specifically for this salamander. If this aquarium was already used for fish or other animals without bleach sterilization prior to reuse, then I too recommend against releasing the salamander.
 
Yea i wasnt going to release him anyway, i was going to find a way some way or another to keep him comfortable and happy :D , i found a 20 gallon hexagon tank that is between 15-20 inches long as well as in width, i am going to take some of my river rocks and gravel and make a half water, half land place for him/her, should i put flat rocks in the water and some live plants? I dont know what they like best haha... And i have food i have live crickets and i will be getting earthworms tomorrow for him(i will cut them up of course :) ) the cricketsnare for when ues a big boy 👍
 
Troyee219 said:
Yea i wasnt going to release him anyway, i was going to find a way some way or another to keep him comfortable and happy :D , i found a 20 gallon hexagon tank that is between 15-20 inches long as well as in width, i am going to take some of my river rocks and gravel and make a half water, half land place for him/her, should i put flat rocks in the water and some live plants? I dont know what they like best haha... And i have food i have live crickets and i will be getting earthworms tomorrow for him(i will cut them up of course :) ) the crickets are for when ues a big boy 👍
Click to expand...
sorry for the mispells i am a fast typer....
 
K I got his tank setup the water is from the aquarium he was in, does it look good? I have driftwood and river stones for him to hide and climb on, he has a lot of land space as well, the water is about 2-3 inches deep is that deep enough?
 
He isnt eating i cut up a earth worm and he ignored it, i got some small-medium sized earwigs for him and he looked interested but he just swam away, why???!
 
Well, it has been in captivity less than 24 hours. It is likely still adjusting to the radical change in conditions.

Keep in mind that it will likely prefer food small enough to eat easily, and certainly is accustomed to moving prey. Also make sure the temps are appropriate (care sheet says 15c - 22c/59F - 71F), since heat stressed amphibians tend not to feed.

That care sheet also says that they should be kept in moving water. I don't know if that would affect feeding behavior, but it might.
 
Yes the temp is between 60-70 your right i think its just because its getting introduced to the cage, the earwigs were moving and wiggling but the worms were motionless, i will try again tomorrow.
 
The food items are probably too big. At this stage they're eating macroinvertebrates like tiny mayflies, stoneflies, and chironomids. I would try bloodworms personally. Sometimes fish stores will sell live bloodworms for guppies and such.
 
I gave him a baby earthworm just now and he ate it!! Im so relieved, he ate it whole and then went back to hiding in the rocks his temp is staying at about 70 but goes down to 68-69 at night.
 
The practical way, really, is to lower the temp of the room. Some folks keep temperate amphibians in the basement, where it is cooler. Temperature control can be the limiting factor for keeping temperate amphibians in captivity.

There are various chillers available, but they are expensive and can't really be plumbed simply into a small tank. Certainly a comprehensive search could offer options for serious DIYers or those with deep pockets.
 
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