Hi from New Hampshire (USA)...

[beatrice]

Hello everyone-- I've been reading some of the great information I've found on this site, and want to introduce myself before starting to ask questions. I live in Southern New Hampshire, and have one larval newt/salamander. I'm cringing a bit to say this, but it was caught in the wild by my coworker and given to me because she knew that I am raising some tadpoles & have interest in amphibians. I rescued the tadpoles from a rapidly drying puddle in a driveway (and have released 4 after metamosphosis at this point), and took the newt/salamander larvae because it was also in an area that was drying up.

Retrospectively, it might have stayed wet long enough for him to mature, but I'm not sure. The woodland pools in that area are almost all bone dry at this point, as we've had a dry spring. (I work with a mosquito control company, and it is part of my job to travel around checking wet areas where mosquitoes might be breeding, so it's not just a guess...) At any rate, please don't bombard me with rotten eggs-- I'll be asking for advice about possibly releasing him in the help section.

Have a lovely day-- Beatrice

 

[Kaysie]

Hi Beatrice. Welcome to the forum!

Don't sweat the wild-caught specimen. Most caudates kept in captivity are wild-caught, as captive-bred specimens are rare for most species (but becoming much more common!). Do you know what kind it is?

 

[beatrice]

Thanks for the welcome and reassurance... I try to be ecologically sensitive, and hate the idea that this little guy was taken from his habitat. :sad: But I've done my best to keep him happy, and so far, he's been all right and growing. I don't know what sort he is, but will try to find out. Maybe tomorrow I can start a thread about what he is and might need. It's 2 a.m. and I must go to bed!