Help me identify his species

[Foree]

Im new to the forum and this is my firat post so here it goes! This week a friend brought a salamander back from his trip to colorado. He gave it to me to take care. I can't release it back into the wild without driving to colorado. My best guess is that he is some sort of barred tiger salamander larva or maybe it's neotenic, all I know is he is bigger than any salamander larva I have ever seen. he's about 6" in length, I'll post a few pictures as well.

 

[Slimy2]

He is most indeed a barred tiger salamander larva (Ambystoma mavortium). These guys are not endemic to our state of Arkansas, so please don't release him.

Instead here are some care sheets you should read through about caring for these guys:
Ambystoma mavortium
Tiger Salamander 101: Care Guide for the Beginner
Metamorphosed Tiger Salamanders

I'm willing to bet it won't be long until your larva there begins morphing into an adult, so be sure to check on him daily and have a terrestrial enclosure prepared for him.

All the Best,
Cameron

 

[AxolotlChris]

Careful of that substrate, It looks just like Titan Moon Sand, very sharp and jagged.

It can cause internal damage: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-beginner-newt-salamander-axolotl-help-topics/f48-axolotls-ambystoma-mexicanum/f59-axolotl-tank-set-ups-filters-substrate/80274-warning-about-tahitian-moon-sand.html

 

[Foree]

Awesome! I'm glad I was able to figure out what he was on my own. I still need to make a baffle for the filter to stop the current, but he seems pretty happy. Thank you for the care sheets cameron, I'll be sure to read them. And to answer axolotlchris, it's not Tahitian moon sand, it's a fine aquarium safe sand I got at an aquarium supply store. I'll check it to be double sure, but when I was putting it in the tank it didn't seem very coarse at all.

 

[Sith the turtle]

Yes, like I said on his other thread, he or she is a larva Tiger salamander, to be more specific the Barred tiger. The above links are extremely helpful, as they show great and helpful tips