Question: Anderson's Salamander (A.Andersoni)

[ChrisCook18]

:rofl:Morning All:rofl:,

Sorry for posting at such an early time, I'm working nights and had a spare 15 minutes so I thought what the hell I'll ask to see if I can get any suggestions.

I've been doing a lot of reading on the Anderson's salamander, and I'm getting them next thursday. I've setup a two foot tank, with sand substrate, a few little decorations and I'm cycling it through nicely. There's a couple of things that I have been thinking about which I've noticed when reading about them.

The morphing problem , I've noticed people have had them morph, and it isn't something that I want to do, so I want to keep the tank constantly cool. Has anyone tried using a chiller or something similar to keep it cool? I've been having a look on the internet for them and they seem extremely expensive for the opposite of a heater.

Secondly, I was wondering about food:frog:. I've had a good look around at different threads and forums and found different bits of information on what they eat, which is very similar to Ambystoma Mexicanum (Axolotl's). I've already got a worm farm in place which I'm currently feeding some to my existing four axolotl's. Is there anything else out there that is pretty good. They are going to be pretty small when I receive them, about 10cm long. I just want to be able to rear them up healthily and into my third point.

Breeding. Has anyone out there in the UK, or in the US or Australia had any success with breeding these beautiful neotenic salamanders? I've emailed a few guys from Austria and Germany but the translation isn't that accurate. I know it's going to take time and luck, but it's something that I would love to happen if I'm lucky enough to help.

I'm pretty much just trying to get as much information as possible.

Sorry for the longish thread, just trying to be a good keeper.

 

[esn]

Re: Anderon's Salamander (A.Andersoni)

Basically raise them exactly like axolotls. Keep them cooler if possible, but I haven't noticed many other differences. They're more active so a bigger tank than you would give axies would be a good idea. Cool water, earthworms, and I'd say few decorations. They swim fast and can thrash a bit, and I've had one of mine injure himself on a hide that should have been perfectly safe from going so fast.

Morphing is a problem, and you should ask Ian about it. He is in the UK and has had one morph. They're more prone to morphing than axolotls for sure, though if you keep your axolotls fine then you shouldn't have a problem.

Definitely Ian can help you out. A few members on here in the US have bred them, but they all lost their stock. They're much rarer now. I've got to say you all in the UK are lucky SOBs. I can't find andersoni available here anywhere, and I'm having trouble getting my male ready to breed. I have a pair of my own and the female is gravid from cooling, but my male is just not on it. It shouldn't be much harder than axolotls, they just need proper cooling. I'm keeping mine at 60F right now, and feeding nightcrawlers.

 

[xxianxx]

Re: Anderon's Salamander (A.Andersoni)

I have 3.2.0 A.andersoni , I had another female which morphed and died four months latter. Agree with all esn said, the US andersoni population was cooked by two successive hot summers, the A.mexicanum population is still going strong so the lesson is keep these guys cooler than your axys or risk losing them. There is also a belief that they are less tolerant of poor water quality so you need to stay on top of that. Cant help you much more than that Chris, good luck with them and put some pics up when they arrive. You still got the axys you had off me?

 

[ChrisCook18]

Re: Anderon's Salamander (A.Andersoni)

Cheers for the advice. Yeah I still have them Ian, down to two, one golden and one wild type from the batch I received from you. I'm just looking forward to getting the Andersoni's. Should be in a couple of days, just waiting to hear back from Mark at Dartfrog. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[ChrisCook18]

Re: Anderon's Salamander (A.Andersoni)

They finally arrived this morning at 9 am Gonna try and upload some pictures now
Looking beautiful in their new tank, and being fed on worms, and they are being kept at cold temperatures, so I'm pretty happy.

Let's just see how it goes over the next few months.