Best Starting Salamander?

[brandon]

What is the best salamander to start rasing for the first time owner?

 

[jesper]

Pleurodeles waltl. AKA spanish ribbed newt.

 

[rob]

Or if you want something terrestrial Ambystoma species are really good...tiger salamander and long toed salamander especially in my opinion.

 

[david]

Axolotls aren't too bad either

 

[cataldo]

How about the Cynops orientalis? They seem to be the #1 found newt in north america from what I see. Very hardy, Easily obtained and replaced if need be, smaller species for space, fully aquatic so no need to worry about terrestrial foods, and very CUTE!

Cataldo

 

[rob]

They are one of the more fragile species in terms of temperatures, and sometimes if you get the odd young animal that refuses to enter water due to their size and only eating live prey of an appropriate size makes it difficult for most beginners to care for. Not to mention they are excellent escape artists, more so then the larger species mentioned above.

P. waltl, Axolotls and T. granulosa all eat readily anything they can smell under water, and the terrestrial Ambystoma can all be trained to be hand fed, so they (should) take anything you feed them.

C. orientalis are more commonly available though, and are a very beautiful species, but if you wish to get them I would use caution to ensure you try to pick the healthiest looking animals and set them up in an area of your house where you can monitor the temperatures very closely. If you can keep the temperatures low and get some healthy adults they are fairly easy to care for.

 

[jesper]

Actually I think orientalis are very fragile newts - almost all orientalis around here are in so bad shape in the petshops that they are as good as dead. They have died in loads for me despite that I have given them the best caring for they can get. If you buy orientalis buy from a breeder - a healthy orientalis is indeed hardy, the problem being that it is difficult to find healthy ones around here at least.

 

[jesper]

I meant healthy orientalis not healthy breeders, hehe

 

[devynn]

I found tiger sals to be rather easy to care for. They are amusing to watch and aren't that time consuming. Speaking of C. Orientalis, I fell in love. I saw some at a pet store yesterday and now I can't live without them. They are so tiny, what size of tank do you suggest I get. I have a ten gallon, is that okay? I know you said to buy them from a breeder but I felt so sorry for them. They were in a tank with frogs, gold fish, and geckos. How sad is that? I have to save them, even if I have to buy all of them! Plus there was a waterfall in their water. Would any of you buy them? They didn't seem unhealthy.

 

[mark]

My own experience of cynops orientalis has been good. I've had my two for 5 years now and they've proved very hardy. I did however have initial trouble with a fungal infection and loss of a leg in one, but it went on to make a complete and extremely rapid recovery.

However since i have read so many posts about the fragility of this species several times, despite my own experiences, i'm inclined to think that the newts in this country arrive in better condition or are easier to keep due to no hot temperatures! (scotland!!!) Or maybe my two are just exceptions! In any case I must agree with previous posters in that healthy orientalis at the right temperature at very easy to maintain.

 

[cataldo]

They were in with geckos? That would be bad for somebody, either the gecko drowning, getting toxic secretions from the newt, or the newt dying from the heat lamp that most geckos need.

Well, I have had store bought CFB's for many years now, I even bred them and raised the larvae to late juvenile stages. With all aquatic newts, you want the temps to be somewhat watched and to never let it go way up. (e.g. 85F, ahhhhh) If you keep them in the basement, in a climate controlled room/house, use frozen water bottles, or even a expensive chiller, they are great. Remember if you cannot provide the environment for the creature in question, then yes, move on to a different species.

Tigers are commonly found in most states, especially their larvae. They require room to grow though, so a larger tank is preferable. The only reason I didn't mention a tiger, was because it would have been redundant by my post.


Cataldo

 

[fabian]

Hi Devynn,
I wouldn't buy one of those! They are kept totally wrong, and you can be pretty sure they'll get ill sooner or later. Perhaps you will save the newt you're buying (or at least give him a better dead than he would have at that pet store), but the pet shop makes his deal and so he will order new orientalis keep them the same wrong way and will kill them.
I can understand what you're thinking, but try to get some cb orientalis, they are much hardier!
Fabian

 

[rob]

I agree with Fabian...purchasing improperly cared for animals form a pet store is going to lead to them purchasing more due to the sales rather then examining why so many are dieing in store. And once you have the animal they no longer are concerned with its health.

 

[devynn]

But they are so unbelievably adorable. I can't stop thinking about them!

 

[cataldo]

i have two juvies I will part with if you like. Let me know

This way, your getting CB animals cared for properly since birth.

Cataldo

 

[devynn]

How much? If you want to email me my address is ussdrug@aol.com. Thanks.