What are they?

Oh my goodness they are just so beautiful!

Can someone please tell me what they are? If you look closely enough, you can probably also tell me what I need to do next in preparing a healthy environment for them..?

Thank you!

It looks to me like an unhealthy, larval tiger salamander (A.tigrinum).

They are pretty cool looking, aren't they?

Hi Nathan,

Why do you say "unhealthy"?

Oh, I wrote that because it looked to me like they had pretty shrunken gills and seemed skinny. Maybe it's just me though, or it could be that they are morphing (it's hard to tell from the pictures).

Is morphing unhealthy? Or, asked otherwise, is it easy to confuse an unhealthy animal with one that is morphing? These lovelies come (were rescued) from a pet shop. Information on their gernerally noticeable stats as to species, health, stadium of development, etc., would be truly very appreciated!

Hey Nathan,
These pictures are of one salamander (so we think-the salamander part). It is mine. It was a rescue from a pet store a few days ago. All I know for sure is, they said it was a Water Dog. I asked them to give it to me so I could try to save it. It was in a "full" tank of feeders and it's gills were getting eaten up. I brought it to their attention and they moved it to the next tank over with fewer, but larger fish. I went back 2 days later to check on it and the gills were gone and I could see the fish nibbling. Some of the skin on the arms was also missing. They gave it to me. I set up a new tank for it right away. It was already starting to develop the fungus on the eaten areas. I've been treating with salt baths the last few days. The fungus is almost gone. It is eating earth worms, so I think that is a good sign. So here I am trying to learn really fast what to do to save and care for this little creature.
Connie

blueberlin said:

Is morphing unhealthy? Or, asked otherwise, is it easy to confuse an unhealthy animal with one that is morphing?

Click to expand...

No, metamorphosis ( The transformation from larva to adult) is perfectly natural and healthy in most newts and salamanders. I only mentioned morphing because that could've explained the shrunken gills.

Connie- Thanks for the background info, it explains the reasons for the salamander's condition. It is definitely a Tiger salamander if it was sold to you as a 'Water dog'. It sounds like you are taking very good care of it so far, I hope the treatments help; eating is a good sign. Good Luck!

P.S.
Caudata Culture has an entire page devoted to the care requirements for adult tiger salamanders and their larva A.K.A 'water dogs', I suggest giving it a thorough read if you have any questions.

Thanks Nathan. Now that I know for sure what it is, I will do that.