Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

M

mark

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Are these aquatic or terrestrial or semi-aquatic?
I have read all of the above and I have no idea which one is true. I have seen pictures of them in the water and on land. This could imply being semi-aquatic, but I would like to know which they are. Thanks in advance,

Mark
 
Metamorphosed pacific giants are terrestrial/fossorial just like Ambystoma species and should be housed in much the same way. They are not semi-aquatic either.
 
I caught a 15 incher 3 years ago that would growl, bite, and eat mice.
 
Hmm do you still have it. That might be a record holder.
 
I been watching and studying wild dicamptodonts for a while now. Recently I got to curious and decided to catch a few keep them. I had four 6inch long ones in a 30gal aquarium, the temperature was at 65 and no higher than low 70's. The aquarium was well cycled for about a month. It was well airated and well filtered. They were doing fine for about 3 weeks then they developed blue eyes. I never had this problem with any of my other larval salamanders (and I have plenty). I started treating this problem, and separated them all to 10 gallons. They seem to be more sensitive than any other salamander I have. Any suggestions or tips out there.
 
They could be really sensitive to water quality. You could take a water sample from the stream they came from and have it analyzed, or buy a ph analysis kit and do it yourself. I think Petsmart does free aquarium water analysis. I know that there are salts and things you can buy for axolotls that alter the ph and additives that dechlorinate the water, and other products that neutralize ammonia.

I noticed when I lived in Washington that they never occured in streams and rivers in and near cities where the water was getting a lot of runoff. To me that implies that they need really fresh water to survive.
 
Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

Dicamps are very sensitive to water quality. As well, they need really cool water. I am studying these animals for my Ph.D. thesis and I have a bit of experience with them in the lab. The cloudy eyes may be indicative of a systemic problem. If not treated quickly they will die. I used tetracycline and malachite green (much less than prescribed).
 
Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

Is there any chanse to find juveniles of this species? i find them very fascinated.

Just curios.
 
Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

in what manner do you mean "find"? if you mean find someone who is breading them, the answer is no. If you mean find them in the wild the answer is yes... the juveniles are much easier to find than the adults... Working your way up a quarter mile of stream can yield dozens of specimens if you are in the right place... unfortunately it's hard to find good habitat for these animals that isn't protected (this is actually a very good thing). This means that it is difficult to find individuals that can be taken legally. The genus has no special protection under california law and are the first animals on the list of legally collectible amphibians in the CA fish and game handbook.

I know of a couple location that are legal but they tend to host many more Taricha than Dicamptodon (by a ratio of about 50/1)

I have started a group in the community section for Dicamptodon. It is a public group which means you don't have to be a member to browse the photos. although I encourage anyone to join who wants to.
 
Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

bewilderbeast said:
in what manner do you mean "find"? if you mean find someone who is breading them, the answer is no. If you mean find them in the wild the answer is yes... the juveniles are much easier to find than the adults... Working your way up a quarter mile of stream can yield dozens of specimens if you are in the right place... unfortunately it's hard to find good habitat for these animals that isn't protected (this is actually a very good thing). This means that it is difficult to find individuals that can be taken legally. The genus has no special protection under california law and are the first animals on the list of legally collectible amphibians in the CA fish and game handbook.

I know of a couple location that are legal but they tend to host many more Taricha than Dicamptodon (by a ratio of about 50/1)

I have started a group in the community section for Dicamptodon. It is a public group which means you don't have to be a member to browse the photos. although I encourage anyone to join who wants to.
Click to expand...

I mean from some who is breding the species, as i thought hehe. To take from the wild would be a probleme because of my location, but i understand you mean in general matter. I am not member in any community section yet so wy not, much to learn from wich is fun and good.

Thanks for your answer.
 
Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have had a growing interest in Pacific Giants for the past few years. I run across them on canyoneering adventures I make often in the Columbia River Gorge. I currently am keeping/studying a large adult in a terrarium, and its fascinating. I know adults are supposed to be almost purely terrestrial, but I've seen something different so far. Half of my terarium is a pond with @ 10 gallons of water, good filtration, a school of guppies, an aquatic plant...and the other half is constructed with native mosses, douglas fir bark, and river rocks. It does sleep all day, but at night...wow... It goes everywhere in the terarium, including swimming and hunting the guppies. Although a large, full-grown adult, it is an elegant swimmer and seems to enjoy it. I have yet to get the lighting set up well enough to get pics of this salamander to do it justice, but here are a couple that I've taken of other adults that aren't quite as large, but very, very similar to my little study subject...
 

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Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

I will be heading to the Humboldt area over Thanksgiving. I am taking my kids on a herp photo safari. I will let you know about terrestrial, etc...
 
Re: Pacific Giant sals (Dicamptodon ensatus and tenebrosus)

This thread is originally 8 years old. Chances are they've answered the question themselves already.
 
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