Thanks for your interest in our blog. The mainly yellow animals are of the subspecies fatuosa. They are not mine, the others are. I took their photo while visiting a breeder. The best source for captive born specimens of that and other subspecies is Michael Shrom; he is located in PA, USA, and well-experienced in care and shipping.

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

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog and the kind words. I look forward to your future comments on crocodile salamanders or others; please feel free to post croc comments on any of my salamander articles,

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog and for the kind words. You can use the Search Box (to right of title) to find other articles, or scroll down to “Tags” on the right side of any article. Also, please feel free to post a comment after any article asking about specific topics or animals – I can easily provide a link to any articles I may have written that might be of interest to you.

At the top right of any article you can also click on “Subscribe” and be informed of new articles via email (3 new article are posted each week).

I look forward to your future comments,

Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your comment.

You are quite right – most newts are very perceptive and aware of their surroundings, California newts in particular. Toads are in a class all by themselves…I kept several marine toads at large (below exhibits at the Bronx Zoo) and was really amazed at how they predicted feeding times, maintained retreat sites, approached when I entered their area, etc.

I’m sure you’re onto something as regards toxicity imparting a certain boldness – you see it in dart frogs and other well-protected yet tiny animals as well. Striped skunks are among the calmest and most confident wild pets or exhibit animals imaginable…they “know” they’re untouchable. I’ve live-trapped and relocated dozens during my years at the Bronx Zoo – by moving slowly, I was able to cover the trap, load them onto a golf cart, drive across the park and release them without incident.

A California newt I kept in my youth lived for 19 years – 17 of them in the same tank with an American eel that would attack anything else, including my hand, within reach when hungry. The newt was off limits, and made not the slightest attempt to avoid the eel.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks very much for your interest in our blog and the kind comment.

I do appreciate the trend towards short articles, but I find that a great deal is often lost in the process. This subject being my life’s work and passion, I have a difficult time cutting corners, especially where captive care is concerned. A tremendous number of reptiles and amphibians are now readily available to pet keepers, but the quality of advice given by many sellers and authors is, unfortunately, often less than adequate. I have seen a great many unnecessary deaths and well-meaning but poorly prepared hobbyists in my time, and so usually err on the side of writing too much.

That being said, your point is well taken – my first book (before the days of “word count” on the computer) was contracted to be 33,000 words, but ran to 90,000! I’m paying for that oversight right now, in fact, as I must cut a great deal of text for the second addition. New articles on this blog will be in a slightly shorter format, and presented in 2 or 3 parts if need be.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.