Olms bred in semi-captivity

[Jennewt]

This breeding took place in an aquarium, but it had some advantages in its favor. Like the water source was the animals' own native cave water, and the temperature was controlled by being in the cave itself. Still, pretty neat. Photos of eggs and video of olm laying eggs at the bottom of the page:

Rare salamander lays eggs in Slovenia cave | Earth | EarthSky

 

[Mark]

What a great news article with some amazing Olm facts.

Things I did not know before reading:

• They can stay alive without food for up to 10 years (!)
• They may live up to 100 years.
• Females become sexually mature at 14 years
• Only lay eggs every 6 or 7 years.
• Slovenia has a coin depicting an Olm

 

[HodgeaPodge]

Wow, this is awesome! And look at her/him chilling with the eggs! :3

Thanks for sharing. Would be cool to see them in person one day.

 

[Methos5K]

Very cool thanks for posting this! Some of my older published salamander care books have entries for care for the Olm, but I wonder how many private individuals have (or had) kept one of these. I've read that a too sudden increase in light would be fatal. Truly a living fossil.