Red-backed salamanders

[TJ]

I'm keeping three red-backed salamanders in a woodland terrarium right now. The terrarium has many hiding places for my red-backs and they don't fight at all because they all have their own hiding place. How do they drink their water? From a dish or off of the misted plants?

 

[joan]

Caudates don't drink.

 

[jeff]

They absorb moisture through their skin. Misting the tank to keep it moist would be sufficient.

 

[TJ]

Thanks guys. I thought all animals had to drink to survive.

 

[jeff]

They do "drink", just through their skin and not their mouths.

 

[TJ]

Anyway, I also need a way to keep them cool. It's been really hot here in Buffalo (high 80s to low 90s) and I need some really good ideas on how to keep them cool. I fear transporting them to the basement might upset or traumatize them from all the movement.

 

[juston]

http://store.seacorals.net/coaq43cofank.html
you could try one of those or you could also look at radioshack they have mini fans in differnt sizes im not really sure how much though but you can wire them up to like two AA batteries. Hope this helps!

 

[joan]

Transfer them to the basement. The small stress they'll get from moving is a lot less than the stress from the heat.

 

[jennifer]

I agree, the move to the basement won't stress them. If you can't do that, you can put bottles of frozen water into their terrarium.

 

[simon]

Certain cooling packs, especially the box shaped ones are very effective. Some varieties you can put on the outside of the terrarium, others in.