A way to tell just how old?

[animus ONE]

Is there any way to tell just how old my tiger is? i am also real curious if its a male or a female.the people i got him/her from have absolutely info other than it a "waterdog" .can anybody help me out (how silly, im sure there is with all the knowledgeable people on this site). thanks in advance guys.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

The only way I know of is if you raised them from an egg or know they're hatch date.

 

[John]

Sexing is only possible when they have metamorphosed (or in some populations, shortly before they metamorphose). The rules are the same as axolotls - do a search for sexing axolotls.

Justin is right about the age, but if you got it as a "water dog" then it was probably born in the first half of the year you got it.

 

[gtrheroine]

I think I found out by finding a diagram online of the male and female salamanders. I think the females have a more protruding cloaca, the male have a small one... try google images....

Here a Couple quick tips:

1) Always have a secure lid with no large holes in it for your tank.... they can escape!
2) Feed a diet of various insects like mealworms, waxworms, slugs...eww, crickets, etc... with vitamin powder if possible
3) Sallies like colder temps
4) Sallies need to have water to submerge themselves in
5) Keep the water clean
6) Nix the flourescent lights and use natural light
7) Sallies should be a little chubby, but not fat... feed every 2 to 3 days
8) Sallies also like to bury themselves in soil..

hmm... just google around and see the different info, I'm sure there are lots of different opinions on raising these cute little animals.

 

[gtrheroine]

Oh one more thing, I don't know what stage your salamander is in but if it is in the larval stage it needs to be fully aquatic until metamorphasis and keep the water very clean. When the gills seem to go back into your salamanders head, start to lower the water bit by bit. When the sallie is a full salamander then you can start thinking of getting a half soil, half water set-up.. or some people just use a really big dish of water that they change every day that sits in a soil and sub strate terrarium...

 

[Jan]

I think I found out by finding a diagram online of the male and female salamanders. I think the females have a more protruding cloaca, the male have a small one... try google images....

Here a Couple quick tips:

1) Always have a secure lid with no large holes in it for your tank.... they can escape!
2) Feed a diet of various insects like mealworms, waxworms, slugs...eww, crickets, etc... with vitamin powder if possible
3) Sallies like colder temps
4) Sallies need to have water to submerge themselves in
5) Keep the water clean
6) Nix the flourescent lights and use natural light
7) Sallies should be a little chubby, but not fat... feed every 2 to 3 days
8) Sallies also like to bury themselves in soil..

hmm... just google around and see the different info, I'm sure there are lots of different opinions on raising these cute little animals.

I would caution you on finding 'good' information on the internet. There is valid information to be found but there is a lot of misinformation to be found as well. This site has many experienced and knowledgable keepers, both hobbyists and professionals. Let me counter some of this information you have found on the internet regarding tigers (ambystoma spp.):

1. The adult male has a larger cloaca which is most detectable during breeding season.

2. The best, most nutritionally complete choice of food is earthworms or nightcrawlers - the other invertebrates mentioned provide variety.

3. Once they have metamorphosed, tigers do not require water in captivity. I have personally witnessed a tiger drowning in water in a semi-aquatic viv - the sides were too sloped to allow it to crawl out. A shallow water dish can be used in a tiger's enclosure, but is not needed. It is very important that the substrate is moist but not wet and that there is adequate ventillation. If a water dish is provided, it is prudent to use dechlorinated/dechloraminated water.

4. As fossorial animals, tigers by nature burrow into substrate.

At the risk of promoting misinformation, I would suggest refraining from use of the generic term 'sallies' - every species has different characteristics.