Comments on: The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, – Care in Captivity – Part 1

By: findiviglio

findiviglio — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:25:09 +0000

Hello Nina, Frank Indiviglio here.

Thanks for the update. Congrats…even in zoos there are usually losses during transformation. You’ve done very well.

I have some salamanders in their 20’s and 30’s…they will respond to any name at all, as long as you dangle an earthworm while using it!

Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:45:44 +0000

Thanks! They are both doing great! The one in the water is getting black feet which means he is 1 or 2 weeks away from metamorphosis and eats a lot. The metamorph eats small earthworms and blackworms regularly and moves around healthily. The only other thing I have to do is name them so if you have any good names feel free to say… thank you again

By: findiviglio

findiviglio — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:45:26 +0000

Hello Nina, Frank Indiviglio here.

Thanks for the update; great sign that it is eating, transformation is a difficult time. Spotted Salamanders spend most of their time underground (Common name for their family, Ambystomatidae, is the Mole Salamanders). It doesn’t need to burrow in captivity, but provide a cave (commercial herp cave, broken clay flower pot w/no sharp edges, etc.); keep damp sphagnum moss in cave, can be used as a substrate also. Dead leaves and such work, but sphagnum is best for retaining moisture. Curling can also be in response to dry conditions., Substrate and salamander’s skin should always be damp.
Be sure to de-chlorinate the water used to spray the animal and tank.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:48:27 +0000

He is now in his terrestrial cage and has been for 3 days. I spritz him with water once and a while and today he ate 2 pieces of earthworm which was a lot for him. He stays curled up though is that normal?

By: findiviglio

findiviglio — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:09:21 +0000

Hello Nina, Frank Indiviglio here.

Thanks for the feedback. The main thing is to be sure the salamander can exit the water easily…a sloping gravel bank or a small plastic aquarium tipped on one side to create a pool of water and land area will work well. Plastic plants in the water can help it to rise for air and gain access to land. They usually weaken and drown if forced to swim for long.

It may take blackworms left in a jar lid or such once it leaves the water; best to have small earthworms, sow bugs and crickets on hand also.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

By: Nina

Nina — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:36:34 +0000

hello. i am now 100% sure that the larger salamander is metamorphing. over the past 3 days his gills have shrunken and this morning he shed his layer of stuff. (i am not completly sure what it is) he looks healthy and still takes 2 blackworms a day. any advice?

By: findiviglio

findiviglio — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:59:51 +0000

Hello Nina, Frank Indiviglio here.

Thanks for the feedback; Spotteds are more common than the other 2, although declining. All the species pictured on the CT site, including frogs, may be found in NH as well.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

By: Nina

Nina — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:53:14 +0000

they are actually from new hampshire…but i guess they are spotteds. thanks

By: findiviglio

findiviglio — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:09:18 +0000

Hello Nina, Frank Indiviglio here.

Nice to hear from you again. Spotted salamanders vary greatly in pattern and shape of spots…some have very few, and not always in rows; spots can occur on head. Intensity of color may change in time also. Marbleds have white or off-white blotches; Slimy Salamanders are spotted, but the spots are tiny and whitish. You can see photos of all CT’s amphibians here…please let me know what you think.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

By: Nina

Nina — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:15:30 +0000

Hello again. I was looking at the largest (soon to metamorph) salamander and im not so sure they are spotteds anymore because his spots are not orderly or very circular and he has them on his head. He is about 1 3/4 inches and dark with these blotchy yellow spots. I live in New England if that helps. Do you have any idea what they could be. I was thinking marbled but im not sure.