Help please

[Proudgranof5]

We live in the Birmingham, AL area. We have a Red Spotted Eft that was found on our driveway about 6 months ago. He is thriving in the habit we made for him in a 5 gal aquarium. Today while working in the back of our heavily wooded yard, we found another critter. It is black with yellowish/grayish tiny spots and had 4 toes on rear feet. From pics I could find, I think it might be a Wehrle's Salamander. Can I put it in the same habitat as "ET" our Eft? Thanks for any help!

 

[Jennewt]

While they both need a similar habitat, there are some potential problems with this. First, if there is a significant size difference, one could eat the other.

Two species together can create problems with different temperaments. If one is a more aggressive eater, it may hog all the food (and the underling may stop eating, even if there is enough food). One may be more territorial than the other, and this may also cause the underling to stop eating or just die due to general stress.

Even if their temperaments were compatible, a 5-gallon tank is really small for two animals, even if they are both small.

If you like your pet eft, I would recommend setting the other salamander free. It's safer for your eft, and you probably can't take in every salamander than comes along. If you enjoy your local salamanders, I'd recommend learning to look for them in the wild and enjoy them there. This could be a fun hobby for your family.

 

[Proudgranof5]

Thanks Jennewt!! We LOVE "ET" so newbie is going back to the wilderness from whence it came! So glad my granddaughter hasn't seen it yet. There would be tears. Thanks again for the quick response.