Bolitoglossa dolflini

[edward]

I found these at the last Hamburg reptile show in Pennsylvania. I got a really good deal on them so I figured I would see if I could keep them alive. So far its been 4 days and counting.

These guys like a pretty dry substrate but high humidity. I accomplished that by lightly spraying the substrate and the sides and then stacking cork in the cage. I then sprayed the to layer of cork lightly. So far the dolflini have spent their time hidden on the second from the bottom layer of cork (on a very dry surface). Once (IF!)they are acclimated I will probably talk to my vet and treat for chytrid prophylactically.

Ed

 

[alan]

What are you feeding them Ed? They have projectile tongues, right? Insectivorous?

 

[philipp]

Hi Ed
Call them Bolitoglossa dofleini, and why don't you use a higher tank for a climbing salamander?
Friends got some too. Nice animals, but climbing,....;-)
Greets,
Philipp

 

[edward]

Hi Alan,
Right now I am using small crickets for them. I'm feeding them a small number daily to prevent refeeding issues. The smaller one will zap crickets off of your fingers. I have an order of wax worms arriving tomorrow. So far so good they still have their tails and are alive.

Hi Philipp,
Sorry for the misspelling I was pretty tired and it was late my time (I was also in a hurry). I'll have to fix that. I am using this set-up for now as this is what very similar to the set-up I used at work to get a group stable many years ago. I'm not sure of what kind of condition dolflini arrive in Europe but almost all of the ones I am aware of here in the USA have no fat reserves and drop their tails and die within a month of purchase (the necropsies that I am aware of (about 10) all pointed at refeeding syndrome as the major cause of death)).
After they are well established they will be moved to a 30 inch (76.2 cm) tall terrarium. The set-up is taller than it looks as the sweaterbox is almost 10 inches (25 cm tall). The ones we had at work were not as arboreal as B. mexicana (which may have been partially due to the size of the branches in the enclosure).

Ed

 

[alan]

Fingers crossed Ed. I'm fascinated by Bolitoglossa and would love to see the permanent setup if they make it.