3 of my small salamanders escaped please help!

[WVCouple]

My husband and I captured 4 small southern 2 lined salamanders at the creek yesterday. We were planning on keeping them for a few days so my 3 yr old could watch them, and then return them back to the creek.

Well this morning 3 of them escaped. We looked everywhere for them and can't find them. I know nothing about them such as where they would hide if they got loose. Can someone give me advice? I want to find them before they die!

 

[Abrahm]

Finding lost salamanders can be quite difficult and time is of the essence in a home where they are prone to dessication. Lids are extremely important for all amphibians!

The best places to look are along the walls. Follow the walls everywhere and look under everything you can. Piles of laundry, dressers, and rubbermaid tubs are good hiding spots and these could be in closets, or anywhere else. The key is to look everywhere.

 

[WVCouple]

It's strange because I had a lid on the container, it was a pet container I got at Walmart with tiny slits for air. I could only guess 3 of them were able to fit thru the 2 small holes at the top.

I will look again, they were on the countertop right by the sink, I wonder if they crawled down the drain in which case I killed them! My husband and I feel so bad that they may be dead, we were trying to be responsible and intended on releasing them back into the wild. I'll let you know if I find them, thank you!

 

[WVCouple]

how long can they survive before dessication?

 

[tylototriton]

Unfortunately, they cannot survive very long. I would check any dark, possibly damp places, near where the cage was. As much as it pains me to say this, chances are slim that they will survive. Having lost my fair share of animals I know how hard it can be. Keep looking.

Best of Luck
Alex

 

[bcs]

I once had a long-toed salamander escape and I found it 3 weeks later perfectly healthy

 

[smoothoperator]

My brother recently got a new (our 2nd) mandarin crocodile newt, and before we knew it, it had escaped from it's box and slid through the shower pipe hole thing... we couldn't get it out for a while and then next thing you know...it walked away and disappeared from our lives forever!!! :sad: Such a sad day...