Introducing myself

Hello, I'm new to the forums. My name is Linette and I currently live in South Carolina in the USA.

I've studied and kept herps my entire adult life. I've always favored salamanders.

Currently my only caudate is a siren. I purchased at a local pet shop as Siren lacertina, but it may be a lesser siren, I haven't counted the costal grooves yet.

I have kept Siren lacertina in the past. I had my last one, a female, for a decade. She laid eggs several times, but I never had a male to fertilize them.

Over the years I have kept numerous species of ambystoma, newts, and anurans. I am lucky to live in a part of the country that has a large variety of native caudates, and I get to enjoy them in their habitats.

I hope to acquire another siren and create an outdoor habitat for them. I am thinking of using a large rubbermaid stocktank as a pond. I have been experimenting with outdoor habitats over the past several years and have been pleased with results.

Linette

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Welcome, Linette. It sounds like you'll fit right in around here:happy:

Have you seen this post?
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=48254
It may be the first documented captive breeding of lesser Sirens.

I like your idea to have an outdoor enclosure. I am always "tempted" when I see a place selling those big plastic stock tanks. If you can get the tank shaded and underground at least partially, this will help keep the water cool in summer. Good luck!

Thanks for the welcomes. Yes, I did read the thread on the lesser siren breeding! How exciting. I am looking forward to being part of this community.

I have a snapping turtle in one of those stock tanks and it has really worked out well.

for the sirens, I plan to put the stock tank in a dog kennel with netting over it, and plant annual vines...such as mimosa vine, scarlet runner beans, or the like. I will also need to create an escape proof cover of some sort...there are bolt holes along the edge, and I am thinking I could create a plastic or plywood flange that goes in 8 inches or so.

I think I will ask for the stock tank for my birthday! I do love to have sirens in the house though...just because they are so personable and fun to watch. I keep mine in my bedroom so I can enjoy it's antics and beautiful movement.

But the idea of providing a really bang up outdoor habitat is one I cannot pass up. I have had a lot of success with mini hardy water lillies and parrot feather...which I think the sirens will greatly enjoy hanging out in.

I think sirens are sinuosity "personified".