FYI: Salamander water hardness mystery

[starshy]

Hi, I've just gotten through my second batch of salamanders and thought I should post what I discovered for anyone else raising salamander larvae to adult. In the beginning of the hatchlings I lost as many as 6 per day I couldn't figure out why and tried absolutely everything. I researched and researched whether water haardness had anything to do with this and found nothing conclusive. My water was perfect except as hard as hard can be so I began using tap water conditioner and 1/2 gallon reverse osmosis and 1/2 gallon tap water. It softened the water without depleting the mineral content they need. So if anyone is having trouble and doing everything suggested in terms of caring for their babies I suggest trying this it immediately made a difference. Now all that's left is to identify my salamanders since they didn't turn out to be the spotted I gathered last time

 

[Jennewt]

Re: Salamander mystery

Interesting. Did these larvae come from a stream, or from a vernal pool? I'm wondering because they may be adapted to living in rainwater (low mineral content).

 

[starshy]

The larvae came from a year round mud puddle in southern missouri. The soil is a red clay like soil. Very dense and I would like to say limestone is the majority of the rock there. Seeing as these were mud puddles fed by rain and natural runnoffs from creeks I figured it seemed to make sense that the mineral content of the water would be low to moderate and definitely on the softer side. I'm still trying to learn the factual sciences behind these things mostly I've had to go on my own learning about reptiles and amphibians so further insight is rewarding.

 

[Kaysie]

I also combine my tap water with RO. I do 3:2, RO to tap. My water hardness is literally off the charts.