The cost to keep certain salamanders

[KJ_29]

Hey,
I'm looking into keeping salamanders once again, and so I'm busy conducting some preliminary research into species other than my previously owned C.Orientalis.
Since I've found I've little in the way of preference in terms of the species I want to keep (or, perhaps more accurately, there's too much choice) I'd decided to take into account other considerations of keeping certain caudates.
My question is, how do members of the forum find cost varies with certain salamanders? I'm almost totally ignorant, but I'd expect there to be a general trend that the larger the species, the more costly. Generally speaking at least. Then I wonder if terristrial/aquatic has an effect on cost.
It's a pretty general question; but I'd be grateful for any advice people can offer.

 

[Kaysie]

The costs you should consider are:
-food (Do you plan on purchasing? Breeding your own?)
-tank setup (Do you want a nice, realistic looking tank? Or are you going for strictly functionality?)
-electrical input (Are you going to run lights for plants? A filter if it's an aquatic tank?)

As far as maintaining, really the only thing that costs more is more food. My sirens will eat 2 dozen nightcrawlers a week if I let them (and sometimes they get that many), where my Jefferson's salamanders get 2 nightcrawlers a week shared between the 3 of them.

 

[Azhael]

I find cost to be absolutely minimal...
In fact, other than the initial cost for the aquarium, i barely have any expenditures...pretty much just buying frozen bloodworms xD
A very good way to cut down on costs is having a couple of live food cultures of your own.

 

[KJ_29]

Thanks for the insight guys; I'm looking into a slightly larger, more terrestrial species. I think...
No doubt I'll change my mind
So far I'm considering the Taricha genus, or Salamandra.
But then I wonder about C.Orientalis again, or something similar, like T.Marmoratus.
I think I've just made obvious my own indecision, haha.
Like I said, just in the early research stages.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

This time of year my primary expense is crickets as I am forced to get expensive pet store crickets due to weather. The rest of the year is very cheap overall unless you figure in what I spend on electricity for climate control.
Personally, I feel terrestrial adults are less expensive than aquatics or larvae. If you have the time and space culturing your own live foods is definitely the way to go.

 

[fishkeeper]

I find salamanders as a whole to be very inexpensive. In fact they are probably one of the cheapest pets/animals to maintain in captivity and eco friendly as well. Little/no requirements as far as electricity and food can also be reduced to almost nill if you culture it yourself. The biggest expense for me would be blackworms, and occasional other small live foods or live food starters. So yes species that eat more will tnd to cost more to keep.

But also species that need it colder will cost you more in headache/potentially electricity if you are forced to keep than colder than ambient temperatures during the summer.

 

[Jennewt]

I agree with Johnny - it's crickets that cost. And there's also the eternal hassle of having to get fresh crickets at least weekly. So my advice to avoid anything that absolutely requires crickets.