Bolitoglossa mexicana

R

ray

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Does anyone know the requirements of Bolitoglossa mexicana in captivity?
 
Ray, that's a subject of some debate. Very few people/institutions have kept them successfully long-term. They seem to be in very poor health when imported and very fragile to change in environments. Most eat heartily once purchased, only to inexplicably stop eating and autotomize their tails within a few days to a few weeks. They soon die, even with the best care including optimum setup and veterinary health care. Very few survive and it's not really clear why. Though I've never tried mexicana, the situtaion with the oft-imported B. dofleini is similar, and I have first-hand experience with them.

There are some people here on these forums that surely know more about them than me, but from what I've heard, they do "best" in a densely planted, humid terrarium around 78-85F. My advise: unless you've got plenty of money to spend on an animal that is 95-99% likely to simply die, stay away from them.
 
I'm sorry to hear that these salamanders do so poorly in captivity. They seemed so interesting, being arboreal and tropical, a rare combo of traits for caudata. I had planned to set up a big terrarium with air plants and pothos.

Anyway, if anyone has maintained them successfully, please post here.
 
Ray,

B. mexicana has supposedly been bred in captivity a couple of times. There's an abstract from a journal at http://www.dght.de/salamandra/sala3_98E.htm (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde). Maybe you could contact them for more information. I don't know if these were long term captives or not, but I would assume that the breeders would know more about their optimal care.

Jessica
 
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(it belongs to a friend)

(Message edited by tj on August 01, 2004)
 
Beautiful, isn't it?
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No, I took this pic at my friend's house. I wouldn't want to babysit this delicate species without having more experience than I do now. It's supposed to be easier to keep than B.dofleini though. I'm told told it's less sensitive and its environment need not be as dry.
 
Wow Tim, that's one of the prettiest salamanders I've ever seen, thank you for sharing those pictures.
 
Check out the spiffy toes. He's got webbed feet. If this species is arboreal, whats the purpose?
 
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