Salamander?

[Lisser]

Hello all,

First post, first time ever dealing with a salamander. I work in a school and a teacher brought me what I think is a salamander...I don't believe we have newts where I live (Northern Kentucky). She said he was in her driveway and couldn't let him die. She put him in a tupperware container with some water. She knows I am an animal lover and will never say no to an animal in need. So I googled salamander and found this pretty cool site.

I have no idea what type of salamander he is. He is pretty much a solid black color..looks like maybe some gray tiny dots on him but it could be bubbles from the water? I put him in a little critter carrier with a log in it for now with about a 1/2 inch of water..enough to keep him moist but I didn't want to drown him. I've read some on salamanders while waiting for confirmation to post here but I'd still like some feedback from you all if possible.

Should I just release him in a creek near by? Is it too cold to let him out? It's about 30F today and will be about 25F tomorrow, we've had a lot of rain recently so I'm thinking that's why he was out and about. There are a lot of earthworms out on the sidewalks bc of all the rain. Should I keep him? If so what is best to feed him, can someone show me a picture of a good tank set-up if you do recommend that I keep him?

I just want to do what is best for him and if that means keeping him alive through the winter and releasing in the spring, that's fine, if I should release him now, I'm ok with that too.

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[callina]

Hi,

I don´t know the british law, but in germany we are not allowed to keep salamander from nature, even not for hibernation.
I hope you will get a qualified answer soon.

But, could you post a photo? That may help to identify your little "pet".

Welcome to the forum!

-Tina-

 

[Lusiwarrior]

Hello Lisser,
is best doings some pics and posts so that we can identify the animal! So it is easier to tell you something about him and what their needs! However you can try to give earthworms, few newts are able to resist them, you also care for an animal may be more terrestrial than aquatic, the ideal would be to put it in a place with land and a small coin tray with water, so he could choose where to be. But the most important of all are the pictures as soon as possible!

 

[Lisser]

Thank you for your replies. I'm not sure if it is against the law in the USA or not. I am not in Britain. I only have good intentions so I do not think I will be in trouble for trying to save his life.

I am at home now and the salamander is in my office at work. I will post a picture tomorrow.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[henslowsparrow]

Hello and welcome to this forum!

I can appreciate the desire to want to help a critter as I have been in your position on a number of occasions. The chances are that you do have some sort of salamander and not a newt (although there are a couple of newt species in KY) because it was in someone's driveway (not in water). For ID purposes, you could grab a herp field guide from your local library and have a go at identifying it. Of course, posting a pic would help us as well. For starters, I would not keep it in standing water. If it was on land, it is in a terrestrial state of its' development. It will probably be most happy with some dirt and a nice hidey hole.
If it were me, I would be inclined to identify the little guy and release him in an appropriate habitat that is closest to where it was found, especially if it was within the past couple of days that it was discovered. I've read that salamanders can be found roaming about when the weather does not seem ideal, even at times when there is snow on the ground. I'd like to think that he knew what he was doing, albeit a bit confused to be in a driveway, and would appreciate the opportunity to go back into the wild, reproduce, and do what salamanders do. There's my two cents. Good luck! And we'd love to see a pic no matter what your decision.
-Emily

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Aye, a picture is always helpful in IDing the species.

Also, if you have a look at our Book reviews Section here on the forums there is a list of Field Guides that may help you out.

As for legalities, they vary greatly from state to state. Fish and Game (or the local equivalent) would be an ideal place to start for both caudate laws and possibly identification.

 

[Lisser]

Thanks for the replies..I would very much like to release him back to his natural habitat. I was just worried that he would not survive the cold. I've taken two pictures with my phone so hopefully these might help. They are not good quality at all but let's give it a try.

 

[Lisser]

I'm not sure if those attachments worked, try this:

Oh and while I'm posting pics...here is a gecko that I inherited from my neighbor who after having him for 5 years decided did not want him anymore. I have since learned about geckos and he's mine and I heart him . He is not on that substrate any longer either...just FYI.

This is Larry:

 

[Maxorz]

I looked it up, and I'd say it looks like a Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum). Since they burrow, I think it could hibernate easily throughout the winter and survive if you let it go. Yet, I'm not really the right person to give you advise on this. It will be a lot better to wait and see what a true expert has to say

 

[Lusiwarrior]

It appears likely that a Ambystoma texanum, I do not know! I like to help you with these pics but it's hard to even understand what it is! You'll have to wait for someone with more experience is a fact!

 

[Greatwtehunter]

You've got 3 possibilites; Ambystoma texanum, Ambystoma talpoideum, or Ambystoma barbouri. If you could PM me the county you live in then I can tell you for sure which species it it.

Either of these guys need to be housed with a substrate layer of at least 3-4 inches to cater to their burrowing needs. They don't really need a water dish as long as the substrate stays moist but not soaking wet. They can be fed worm chunks as the main item of their diet and then gut loaded crickets can be offered as a treat. The temperature in the tank should be kept around 70F and under to prevent heat stress.

 

[slowfoot]

I would wait until a nice rainy evening and release him in a natural area near where you found him. In the meantime, he'd probably appreciate a substrate of slightly moist organic soil (no fertilizers, etc) and some dead leaves for cover.

Don't know the species, but he looks healthy and it's common for salamanders to be out in cold, rainy weather.

 

[Lisser]

Thanks guys! In looking at the choices you gave me, to me he looks like an Ambystoma talpoideum. He's got that gray speckling on his underside and lower sides.

 

[Lisser]

Thanks for all the help with the salamander. I've now got him in a carrier with about 4 inches of moist soil, some earthworms, and dead leaves until he goes to his new home. As soon as I put him in he started to burrow right away. I can't see him but I hope he's happy and I hope he eats!!

 

[Nathan]

Your salamander is definitely A. barbouri, not A. talpoideum. I will add my voice to the chorus; return him to his habitat. If you are getting the same cool, damp weather we're getting this week in Tennessee, it's a perfect time to release him, as near where he was found as you can. This time of year is when the little guys start migrating from their forest burrows to small rocky streams to mate and lay eggs. They are highly philopatric- that is, they return to the stream where they were born to breed.

 

[Lisser]

I agree, I will be releasing him but a teacher brought him to me from her driveway. She says there are no creeks or streams near where she lives so she has no clue how he got there. There is a very nice creek behind my parent's home. I'll release him there. It is perfect weather today!!