Spotted Salamander Breeding

I believe I have been successful in my efforts of breeding my ambystoma maculatum, though, I had both them and the ambystoma laterale in the same tank that usually is home to my eastern spotted newts. The eggs are either maculatum or laterale, which is exciting in either case.

Fantastic news! What procedure did you follow to get them to spawn? DO you know tank temperatures, photoperiod etc?

I know most of the details. I kept the six of them outside in my garage during the winter occasionally checking up on them and having a heat pad to keep it around 20 degrees fahrenheit. They've stayed in hibernation for about four to five months until it warmed up a bit and they started moving around again. As soon as I noticed them moving around I took my red spotteds and moved them to a different tank. I filled the non planted parts of the tank with sticks and leaves to provide some laying spots and cover. The tank is approximately 68 degrees fahrenheit usually and the tank gets direct sunlight, so they had all natural light periods. Other than that I came home and found the two main egg clumps. I took them out afterwards, but I put the spotteds back in, because the one looks like she still is full of eggs and might lay anytime. I'm going to watch the development of the eggs closely. They appear to be fertile, but it's too early to tell.

so the tank pictured is not the tank they were laid in?

The tank pictured is the one they laid in. Before I added two new amazon sword plants and a layer of leaf litter. The two have been removed from the tank for now, but I might attempt one more try.

All of the eggs were infertile besides for two eggs laid aside from the main clumps.