Native Tiger Salamanders in petshop! Speak up!

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

I came a cross a group of 3 native Tigers Salamanders at a local moms and pops pet store. I asked the owner about the salamanders labelled as "Spotted Salamanders". We had a short conversation and then he decided they shouldn't be in the store and asked me to take them. They were given to the store by someone who collected them in Michigan and kept them as pets.

Now they are taken out of an aquatic tank and have better care. I didn't really want to take the Tiger Salamanders. I just wanted to Suggest better housing and how they shouldn't be in the store. After leaving with the 3 Tiger Salamanders, I felt glad. I'm glad I spoke up for the Salamanders. Because I did spoke up, next time someone drops by the store with salamanders that are native he'll reject them.

Here are some pics, before and after. These tigers are on the thin side and are morphs from this year. They are 7 inches and still have the lumps where gills use to be. Now I have 3 new Tiger Salamanders for free, which makes it even better.

 

[ethan]

Great salamanders!!!! You are sooooooooo lucky!

 

[JessKB]

Jaymes gave me one of these guys right after he got them and he's doing great. Fattening up and already growing! Glad you saved these guys Jaymes, otherwise you know they'd be dying in some kid's goldfish tank by now!

 

[Linus]

Nice setup Jess

 

[JessKB]

Thanks Linus. It goes to show what some leaf litter can do for an enclosure.

 

[king]

I <3 my Oak leaves LOL

 

[potogold71]

Great save bro!

 

[ba98mgt]

Soooo lucky. I live about 30 mins south of Detroit. I've been calling places up to 2 hours away for the past year trying to find Tigers. I had a few, years ago and have been struggling to find more.

Recently, a pet store an hour south of me was able to order them. I'm finding out the hard way, pet shops suck. I ordered 2, 1 arrived dead, and I took the other. When I got home, I noticed it looks as if the spine is deformed. Needless to say, they're ordering me more and hopefully they'll let me keep this one to care for.

Sorry for the long post.

Oh, and hello, I'm Kris

 

[igor]

So glad to hear the happy ending. It's truly scary to think of what might have happened to these beautiful sals in the wrong hands.

 

[Kaysie]

As far as I remember, it is illegal to sell native MI species commercially anyway.