Taricha

[Logan]

Hello, My name is Logan Benedict. I am kind of a lurker to the forums as I have been a member for years and read up when I can but don't really post much. I have been a zookeeper for years and I have done tons of herping in my life for salamanders and related amphibians through most of Tennessee and also southern Illinois and some in Georgia and Missouri. I love the sallys of the East but have fallen in love with Taricha of the West. I guess my main question is who usually has Taricha larvae available? Since I can't herp for these beautiful newts in my zone I would love to own a group to observe at home.

Oh and I live in O'Fallon Illinois but will soon move to Carbondale Il.

I keep lots of herps so Ill just list genus to keep the list short.
Rhacodactylus, Phelsuma, Mantella, Dendrobates, Phyllobates,

When I first started the hobby I kept, Ambystoma, Plethadon, and Eurycea. I wasn't able to keep them because I moved somewhere that didn't keep very cool in the summer and had to give them to friends.

 

[Kaysie]

Welcome to the forum, Logan. When you get to Carbondale, let me know! It's not all that awesome, but I know a couple awesome spots to go herping if you want. And you can scope out my Taricha. Although I don't have any larvae, I do know someone who gets some occasionally.

 

[Msteffen]

Heading to SIU? I did my undergrad there a couple years back.

It really is a hard to beat area for herping. I really miss that part of it.

Mike

 

[Logan]

Yeah I am actually headed back to SIUC. I was there under a different degree program years back and spent most of my time herping at Larue Pine Hills or even just Giant City and I loved it. I had an in at a zoo and went for that and never finished my undergrad but now I want to do more field work so I am going back to finish my degree. Its funny that I wasn't even in the zoology degree program because I spend all my time studying and looking for animals and even working with them but I was too dumb at the time to see that I should make a career of it. It should only take me a year or so to finish though I am very close to my degree.
Also my fiance will be doing her masters in zoology. It is a great area for herps and I am very glad to be going back. Cool to know another member is down there Kaysie, what species of Taricha do you have?

 

[Kaysie]

I work for the Forest Service in Murphysboro. You should come to our volunteer days this spring if you're still around! We go to some pretty cool spots. Mostly trail work, but I squeeze in as much herping as I can because I'm a nerd like that.

I keep a T. granulosa. I got her from another member who was moving out of the country. She's not like any of the other T. grans I kept, though. She's very strange; hydrophobic and a very uncoordinated eater.