Photo: Can anyone estimate the age of this tiger salamander?

[sdrardon]

We found him in our back yard while doing yard work; thought he was a snake at first! After doing some research online we decided to keep him as a pet instead of relocating him, (not illegal in Alabama). Just wondering if anyone could tell his age for me, he's only maybe 4-6 inches long.

Also, he's has been moved to an encloser inside since these pictures were taken, with some plain old top soil from the store .

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

definitively an adult, not sure about gender though

 

[Asevernnnn]

I would make sure the soil doesn't contain any fertilizers or peat. I just use coco fibre cause I can never find peat-less soil.

 

[sdrardon]

So it won't get any bigger and I can go ahead and give him calcium powder on his food once a week? Thanks for the help!

 

[sdrardon]

I would make sure the soil doesn't contain any fertilizers or peat. I just use coco fibre cause I can never find peat-less soil.

I know it doesn't have fertilizer but will definitely check about for pest!

 

[Asevernnnn]

If it's 4-6" it probably will grow larger.
Earthworms should be the staple diet, either bought or collected from a pesticide free area, they will not require any calcium supplement.

 

[RPM]

If it’s 4 - 6” long, it more than likely hatched last spring and morphed to its terrestrial form late summer, making it a year old. This is assuming they mate during the early spring in Alabama.

 

[sdrardon]

Thanks for the input! In still in awe at how he could of ended up in my yard, my only guess is he traveled a little too far from a pond in the cow fields around here. And if anyone is interested we named him mudkip .

 

[Teeglor]

Mudkip is an awesome name haha!

I would guess that s/he's no more than 2 years old as s/he is still pretty small, and that's AT MOST.

Tigers can grow up to 13 inches. S/he will grow much bigger in time.

My tiger was about the same size when I found him in my yard. Now he is 9 and a half inches long. :happy: