Interested in a Tiger Salamander

[Syn]

I've seen people with really neat Tiger Salamanders and I've always considered buying one.
I've decided to start looking into them, so if anyone who has any experience with them could post their ideas here, please let me know!
Humidity can be a problem occasionally (but not long term) just because of the weather, but once I get my swamp cooler back up and running for the house it should not be a problem at all.

Just curious to see what people think of them. Thanks.

 

[james L]

I cared for tigers as a kid and up until my early teens. They are the easiest of all the salamanders. But these days im against the collection of all amphibians. Tigers are not produced in captivity. If you are really interested in them look for hybrids. Theres many different locales/subsps. and people have introduced one locale with another. These are the ones you want. Theres some info out there about where you can find mixed populations.

 

[Syn]

Thanks for the info, James. I did not know they are not produced in captivity, that is saddening.

Are there any hybrids you could suggest?

 

[james L]

You know what, I believe theres hybrids in AZ. You might be able to catch them yourself.

 

[Syn]

My dad told me about how they could collect salamanders if they dug down far enough back where my grandparents used to live in the Globe/Miami area.

But I thought you were against collection?

 

[james L]

Not hybrid stuff. It ruins the natives.

 

[Syn]

Ah, I see. Do you know of any places? Can you direct me to a website that shows how to differentiate between hybrids and natives?

Thanks for the info.

 

[ChaoticNightsReptile]

Syn, head over to the AHA forum and ask. There are non-native tiger salamanders here and I believe someone there can get you a free pet.

 

[BunnyGirl]

I just want to put in my 2 cents and say that they are great pets! I had one for a while and loved his little personality.

 

[ballin]

well there's the blotched, barred and some others along with the smaller cousin, the californian. they have great personality and care similar to every other salamander basically cept that they eat a lot more!

 

[hallenhe]

Tiger salamanders are burrowers; they need something in which to dig. This means (at least in my experience) that beautiful, extensive landscaping is a waste of time, as the salamander's just going to tunnel through it. Soil (organic, i.e. without Perlite (the white pieces in many common soil formulations; these are actually a lightweight volcanic rock added to improve drainage)) is a fine substrate; moist but not waterlogged. The entire extent of my guy's habitat is the soil (3-5 inches thick; I try to give him some topography), a tub of water he can immerse himself in, and a commercial hollow log half for him to shelter under. Sometimes he'll sit under the log, sometimes in the water, sometimes on the surface and sometimes buried in the soil. Generally his eyes are somewhere near the surface, and he'll come out quickly if he expects food.
He'll eat anything that moves; earthworms are a favorite. Every third day or so, my husband cuts a worm in half and shares it out between the salamander and the frog.

 

[Syn]

Syn, head over to the AHA forum and ask. There are non-native tiger salamanders here and I believe someone there can get you a free pet.

Oh oh! I always forget about them. I will have to drop by and ask!

I just want to put in my 2 cents and say that they are great pets! I had one for a while and loved his little personality.

Thanks!

well there's the blotched, barred and some others along with the smaller cousin, the californian. they have great personality and care similar to every other salamander basically cept that they eat a lot more!

Oh joy LOL, just what I need, another eater.

Tiger salamanders are burrowers; they need something in which to dig. This means (at least in my experience) that beautiful, extensive landscaping is a waste of time, as the salamander's just going to tunnel through it. Soil (organic, i.e. without Perlite (the white pieces in many common soil formulations; these are actually a lightweight volcanic rock added to improve drainage)) is a fine substrate; moist but not waterlogged. The entire extent of my guy's habitat is the soil (3-5 inches thick; I try to give him some topography), a tub of water he can immerse himself in, and a commercial hollow log half for him to shelter under. Sometimes he'll sit under the log, sometimes in the water, sometimes on the surface and sometimes buried in the soil. Generally his eyes are somewhere near the surface, and he'll come out quickly if he expects food.
He'll eat anything that moves; earthworms are a favorite. Every third day or so, my husband cuts a worm in half and shares it out between the salamander and the frog.

Too cool, thanks so much for the info! I remember it was you now that posted about your tiger in the first place, which had gotten me wanting one and the thought has been there for a while now.

I have most of what you've said, awesome!

Does anyone have any links to a caresheet I can take a look at?

 

[kangaroo]

I think you'll find the first site particularly helpful

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Ambystoma/A_tigrinum.shtml

http://www.amphibiancare.com/frogs/caresheets/tigersalamander.html