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!

Question: Tiger salamander Metamorphosis!

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Toothless is finally started to morph! In just a few days, his gills have started to shrink and his caudal fin is almost gone entirely! But I had heard that they don’t eat when changing, yet Toothless’s appetite is as ravenous as ever! Is this something I should be concerned about?
 

Attachments

  • 5A424AA4-7629-487A-86A2-31BECD8A683E.jpg
    5A424AA4-7629-487A-86A2-31BECD8A683E.jpg
    459.2 KB · Views: 1,123
  • 89EF626B-4D0B-4C5E-B0DB-AFBA9B0F607A.jpg
    89EF626B-4D0B-4C5E-B0DB-AFBA9B0F607A.jpg
    404.3 KB · Views: 542
  • F157EB2D-7E88-4AE2-A754-AD5317DE3B64.jpg
    F157EB2D-7E88-4AE2-A754-AD5317DE3B64.jpg
    579.7 KB · Views: 341

Bellabelloo

Julia
Staff member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
5,260
Reaction score
114
Location
Hatfield, England
It's going to be quick !
I'm looking forward to seeing his 'new look'. Don't worry about his appetite, I have had some that have kept eating all the way through.
If you haven't already done so, I'd drop the water level down to maybe a couple of inches and have somewhere he can haul out onto. It's time to set up his terrestrial set up :)
 

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Just a few pics on what he looks like now! Gills are almost completely gone but no sign of colors yet! Tank looks a little messy because I just fed him and haven’t had a chance to vacuum out the extra today.
 

Attachments

  • 42DB372D-8FCC-473E-B6BD-47A1989D7237.jpg
    42DB372D-8FCC-473E-B6BD-47A1989D7237.jpg
    467.5 KB · Views: 447
  • 76E2F664-E668-4FE3-932B-3A511C80471A.jpg
    76E2F664-E668-4FE3-932B-3A511C80471A.jpg
    491.7 KB · Views: 348

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Toothless has almost entirely lost his gills but refuses to move onto land even though he has been gulping at the surface every few minutes. He’s starting to float a little from all the gulping, should I be worried?
 

Attachments

  • 8A017184-6975-4E84-B696-3FF480BC6AA5.jpg
    8A017184-6975-4E84-B696-3FF480BC6AA5.jpg
    439.4 KB · Views: 395

Bellabelloo

Julia
Staff member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
5,260
Reaction score
114
Location
Hatfield, England
I would lower the water to 4 or 5 inches now. You'll find he'll poke his head above water for longer periods of time. He'll haul himself out onto land when he's ready :)
 

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Toothless finally came out of the water! I ran out of bloodworms today, so I instead put a few crickets on the turtle dock and Toothless came waddling all the way out, gobbled up the crickets, and then flopped back into the water. His gills are just small bumps now
 

Attachments

  • 6C3D0514-A13A-4118-ABC1-1A35719D28BB.jpg
    6C3D0514-A13A-4118-ABC1-1A35719D28BB.jpg
    603.7 KB · Views: 318

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
No more gills! He spent an hour on the turtle dock today and breathes only air, but continues to spend most of his time under water.
 

Attachments

  • 0ADA23D8-BE04-4156-94BF-D1A0362FB1B6.jpeg
    0ADA23D8-BE04-4156-94BF-D1A0362FB1B6.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 324

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Woke up to find my boy out of the water. He jumped back in after I turned the light on but I saw him sitting out!
 

Attachments

  • 23A28DF6-E5A5-4D9C-ACE4-BB8C63E10A7E.jpg
    23A28DF6-E5A5-4D9C-ACE4-BB8C63E10A7E.jpg
    313.7 KB · Views: 345

Hayleyy

New member
Joined
Sep 25, 2012
Messages
1,240
Reaction score
17
Location
NSW
Wow! What a great thing to watch. I'll be keeping my eye out for updates :D
 

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
First signs of color! If you look at his back, you can see some yellow and black mottling coming in
 

Attachments

  • 7100DEA6-F6AB-439E-9186-65E1F97FADDB.jpg
    7100DEA6-F6AB-439E-9186-65E1F97FADDB.jpg
    508.4 KB · Views: 260

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
After lowering the water level to only four or five inches deep, Toothless has climbed on top of the sponge filter and has been breathing only air for hours!
 

Attachments

  • 7BE56504-BED3-4BB3-A18B-D0A5E0FE26DE.jpg
    7BE56504-BED3-4BB3-A18B-D0A5E0FE26DE.jpg
    555.4 KB · Views: 277

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Development continues! There is no longer a sign of gills, he completely resembles no adult tiger salamander except for color. Although, his eyes have turned amber!! He still prefers to spend his time in the water though. I have no idea when I should transfer him into the terrestrial tank.
 

Attachments

  • A2B11FCB-AE68-4971-BD72-B4297BC90DF1.jpg
    A2B11FCB-AE68-4971-BD72-B4297BC90DF1.jpg
    660.5 KB · Views: 322
  • 3AC60EC1-8EC9-4837-82A6-90031D91A545.jpg
    3AC60EC1-8EC9-4837-82A6-90031D91A545.jpg
    398 KB · Views: 393
  • 1084281F-B77D-4E40-A462-C63E89252AAD.jpg
    1084281F-B77D-4E40-A462-C63E89252AAD.jpg
    423.5 KB · Views: 366

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Land dwelling! But I still don’t feel confident in keeping him terrestrial 100% of the time
 

Attachments

  • 41C75C15-EDA7-4595-A470-9E574BB69AA2.jpg
    41C75C15-EDA7-4595-A470-9E574BB69AA2.jpg
    451.7 KB · Views: 396
  • EDBA752D-93F0-4D50-99CA-6D3A60D9391F.jpg
    EDBA752D-93F0-4D50-99CA-6D3A60D9391F.jpg
    442 KB · Views: 383
  • 40F2E834-588B-4705-959C-53B51243A1FC.jpg
    40F2E834-588B-4705-959C-53B51243A1FC.jpg
    355.2 KB · Views: 331

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Beginning to transition him to a terrestrial tank! Have him in a tub of moist moss at the moment.
 

Attachments

  • 87E53A74-DA75-45EC-A511-7285352B056C.jpeg
    87E53A74-DA75-45EC-A511-7285352B056C.jpeg
    656 KB · Views: 233

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
He has been living his new home! He spends the majority of his time underground, but pops up every once in a while to soak in the water bowl before retreating back underground.
 

Attachments

  • BF480229-99BF-42FF-8F68-C45CFF892874.jpg
    BF480229-99BF-42FF-8F68-C45CFF892874.jpg
    418.4 KB · Views: 349
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    394.6 KB · Views: 331

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Now that he is out of the water, development is slowing. Little cutie still isn’t eating much, but his colors are coming in!
 

Attachments

  • 2021311A-6828-4807-9B6C-B6EF68BA7B52.jpg
    2021311A-6828-4807-9B6C-B6EF68BA7B52.jpg
    549.9 KB · Views: 210

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
He certainly doesn’t understand that to be hiding, his body needs to be buried as well.
 

Attachments

  • 22432BDA-32C3-4BA7-8FE9-1AF1B43E39AE.jpg
    22432BDA-32C3-4BA7-8FE9-1AF1B43E39AE.jpg
    708.3 KB · Views: 330

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
This little guy still has a lot of growing to do before I can keep him with Salaman Grundy without worrying she will eat him. Even though Toothless is big, Salaman is around a foot long at this point!
 

Attachments

  • 982DE5B6-521F-4A64-A033-4A965A833F64.jpg
    982DE5B6-521F-4A64-A033-4A965A833F64.jpg
    181.3 KB · Views: 415
  • B6CD3069-E76C-4E46-9A0F-713E78274577.jpg
    B6CD3069-E76C-4E46-9A0F-713E78274577.jpg
    851.2 KB · Views: 216

RoreyRoreyRorey

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
179
Reaction score
5
Location
Evergreen, Colorado
Toothless is ever growing! And now his colors are finally starting to come in!
 

Attachments

  • 1C8B41F8-C60B-468B-9EE6-8D72CF5AF143.jpg
    1C8B41F8-C60B-468B-9EE6-8D72CF5AF143.jpg
    688.1 KB · Views: 230
  • 0AB25092-67B4-47A9-BB33-FAC1FC6A4936.jpg
    0AB25092-67B4-47A9-BB33-FAC1FC6A4936.jpg
    670.1 KB · Views: 361
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