Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Tiger Salamander or Fire Salamander?

herpsrcool

New member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Which would make the better pet, a tiger salamander or a fire salamander? I want a salamander that is active and entertaining to watch and I also would really like it to be friendly and to notice and come to the glass when i am by the cage, I also want it to be able to get along with another sal of the same species. I am able to get it an any size cage and house it to whatever its type requires. thanks 4 the help:D
 

ajc

Caudata.org Donor
Joined
Oct 7, 2003
Messages
928
Reaction score
13
Location
Leicester, UK
I wouldn't say any caudate classifies in my definition of a "pet" (cat, dog, hamster).
Fascinating and rewarding animals, yes.
Pet? No.
 

mapleotte

New member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
I have a Tiger Salamander. I only see it when it's hungry. Even in those short time periods I find watching how it moves and it's characteristics fascinating. Are you sure this is the right animal for you ?? Mine stays buried 95% of the time.
 

wildsalie

New member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
I have a tiger salamander and it is not the type of animal to come up to the glass and greet you everytime. It does seem excited when we have food for it. But most of the time it goes under a leaf or buries itself in the soil. It doesn't like to be seen very much.
And we don't handle it very often because of it sensitive skin.
But we like it because it is a very low maintenance animal.
 
Last edited:

MRIGUY

New member
Joined
Aug 1, 2007
Messages
333
Reaction score
16
Location
Bethlehem, PA
If you are set on a salamander as a pet and prepared to provide for all of the needs then I recomment Taricha granulosa. They have an abundance of personality, though all of it is food driven. A word of caution though...... These are not they type of pets you can handle and play with. They can be picked up and moved when needed but constand handling is bad. Their skin is sensitive to toxins on your hands and they themselves produce a toxin called tetrodotoxin which is basically what is produced by fugu puffers and blue ringed octopuses. It is quite lethal. That beind said, there is little danger in handling them unless your skin is open and raw in which case you should not be handling any animal. Additionally washing hands before and after is advised and newt to mouth contact should be prohibited. I believe there was a death from some drunk college kid eating one but I am not somewhere I can offer a reference.

I am sure there are others that will have personalities as well but these are my personal fav's.
 

shorty

New member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
26
Reaction score
1
Location
Surrey, BC
My fire hides most of the time. He'll only follow me if I have food, but won't come out if I just pass by the tank. He'll also crawl out after I've just misted the moss area. I know he comes out at night though, the change in his habitat proves it.
 

MelanieK

New member
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
42
Reaction score
3
Location
West Virginia, USA
If you are set on a salamander as a pet and prepared to provide for all of the needs then I recomment Taricha granulosa. They have an abundance of personality, though all of it is food driven. A word of caution though...... These are not they type of pets you can handle and play with. They can be picked up and moved when needed but constand handling is bad. Their skin is sensitive to toxins on your hands and they themselves produce a toxin called tetrodotoxin which is basically what is produced by fugu puffers and blue ringed octopuses. It is quite lethal. That beind said, there is little danger in handling them unless your skin is open and raw in which case you should not be handling any animal. Additionally washing hands before and after is advised and newt to mouth contact should be prohibited. I believe there was a death from some drunk college kid eating one but I am not somewhere I can offer a reference.

I am sure there are others that will have personalities as well but these are my personal fav's.

I have to agree. I would love to have another one of these. I had one years ago and he was so much fun. If anyone out there knows of a good source for these. please PM me and let me know.
 

herpsrcool

New member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
A mountain area nere my house has a ton of california newts which i think are pretty similar to the ones you are talking about. They are so cute and always fun to watch!:happy:
 

ZebraDruid

New member
Joined
May 31, 2007
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
North Carolina
Heh, maybe I was just lucky, or else my paddle tail was just too stupid to know not to (joke, btw), but most of the time, whenever I passed his tank, my paddle tail almost always came to the edge of the tank and just stared at me, either with love or curiosity or malice, I'll never know, (hopefully one of the first two >.> shouldn't have a reason to stare at me with malice XD ) and I highly doubt it was because he was hungry, because of how often he did it, and because he was fat... (he's was a pig lol). But sadly, I can't experience this anymore because my newt is dead ;_;

Good luck with whatever you get!
 

eros719

Ambystoma Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Messages
14
Reaction score
1
Location
Pueblo West, Colorado
tiger sal

I'd go with Tiger salamander, my first one was fairly active during the day. He's a complete begger for food, he'll follow you around the room within his tank. And he will come out of his caves to stare at me when I'm sitting at the computer. After you feed him he kinda licks his lips and closes his eyes at the same time, most adorable expression of satisfaction you'll ever see hehe. he did have a bit of a problem with borrowing and hiding at first but i largely solved that by giving him enough places to hide that he only felt the need to dig one small hole in one of the caves to hide in. And if you get some either half logs from a petstore or just some pvc piping cut in half to use as caves, you can set them against the glass on edge or at the end and you can watch him and check up on him in his caves. And if you have the option, get one that hasn't morphed yet. watching them play in the dirt for the first time is pretty funny. one of my newest just got to that stage, he'll dig a big whole in one side of the dirt area then awhile later move it all back and dig another whole in the other side of the dirt area... lol. They do well together in a large enough space too. plus you just can't beat the grin on a tiger's face hehe.
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top