Fire salamander breeding

[ryan]

I have 7 fire salamanders at home, that I keep on a moss substrate (this is because I heard that they like it slightly acidic). How exactly do you breed these? They seem to be bred in captivity regulary, from what I have seen. Thanks for your help.

Ryan

 

[carlos]

Are they need have a chang of temperature???

 

[sergé]

First lesson of keeping any caudate is to try and find out their natural way of living. Or just look around a bit, these questions have been answered before.
As Fire salamanders come from Europe (most captive specimens from middle Europe) they need some cycle in temperature. Winters should be colder (5-10 Celsius) and summers a bit warmer (15-20 Celsius). But...looking at the sheets on caudata culture can help you as well.

 

[carlos]

Hi, how about the humidity??? Are they need the humidity of change??? What level of humidity you prefer ??? Thank You

 

[sergé]

Yes, of course! Depending on where they come from...take your geografy maps and see what climate they normally have. Some have winterrains and summer droughts (so winter activity and in summer a resting period). Others have winter with frost and snow (so they need hibernation and have their active period from spring till autumn).
In general; I wouldn't keep them too moist. Better dry (like toads) and a small water bowl so they can pick up their water through this bowl. In spring and autumn you can spray abit, just to get they air filled with water, but make sure the ground never becomes wet or soaked with water.

 

[carlos]

Hi, What of fire salamander as your user picture??? I think my fire salamander is the same species. Do you have any suggestion for me to breed them??? Thank You!!

 

[mark]

I think the salamander in Serge's avatar is S.s.salamandra.
Am i right Serge?

 

[sergé]

Nope, and if you would read the miniscule letters it is read that it is a Salamandra algira from Chefchaouen, Morocco.
If you have these Carlos, then you should treat hem with summer rest periods and winters more mosit. Then they will breed themselves, or not. Mine don't breed every year, don't know why though. This species is much more delicate than most subspecies of Salamandra salamandra

 

[mark]

DOH!!!!
I must be turning blind

 

[francesco]

I've always been undecided between keeping my sals moist or dry

. So, is it better to keep them dry? And why?

 

[carlos]

Hi, What is the "summer rest periods"??? Is this means that i should be warmer (above 20-26C) and more dry (above 50%-60%)??? Thank You!!!

 

[sergé]

Depending on the subspecies, f.i S.s. gigliolli and S.s. bernardezi I wouldn't keep to dry, but give them dry spots within the tank, so they can decide themselves. With f.i. S. s. gallaica I have good experiences with keeping the in leaflitter that was more or less dry (of course not cork dry).
A summer rest period is temperatures around 20 degrees (18-22) for the summer period. If you have a tank with 5-10 cm. leaflitter you will see hardly no activity, and the animals will be under their covers. You can let the leaf litter dry out in one place and keep it a bit moist in the other part where you place the water bowl. An open terrarium (with fine maze cover or just plain open with glass strips to prevent them from escaping) is the easiest way to make sure your terrarium soil doesn't become too wet.

 

[carlos]

I see ^_^
Thank You