Question: What am I?

[nwehner]

This fat guy was caught in Lewes, Delaware. I thought maybe a Marbled Salamander, but I've never seen one before. Anyone have a thought?

 

[Jennewt]

It appears to be a tiger salamander. I believe these may be listed as endangered in Delaware, and thus it may be highly illegal for you to remove it from the wild.

On a side note, that's an interesting false-bottom tank you have. How is it filtered?

 

[oregon newt]

It looks like you have him in an aquatic set-up. Tigers prefer a terrestrial set up opposed to an aquatic, but before you think about that, you should check Delaware's laws. I know their illeagal to own down here in Maryland.

 

[nwehner]

I looked in several books; it always seemed that the tigers were dark with lite spots. This guy seems the opposite. But after looking at the link you sent, I see that the variation exists....so, oops, this guy goes back to the wild. Is anyone sure that he isn't a marbled salamander?

As for his aquatic life; thats his preference. The tank is half land.

As for the setup; the bottom is a piece of drop ceiling lite grate, with fly screen siliconed on.
It acts like an under gravel filter, in a fish tank. In my case the pump is outside of the tank.

 

[Jan]

This fat guy was caught in Lewes, Delaware. I thought maybe a Marbled Salamander, but I've never seen one before. Anyone have a thought?

You have a tiger, here is what a marbled looks like:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Ambystoma/A_opacum.shtml
Marbleds are very small by comparison to a tiger and their general coloration is black with silver or white bars/bands.

 

[keechoo]

We have lots of marbled salamanders on our property and they look nothing like the pictures you posted.

 

[nwehner]

Thanks to all of you.

 

[Kathleen]

I think a clearer photo may help. Can you photograph it outside the tank?

 

[nwehner]

Too late. The little fat guy is back in the wild. In any case, after looking at the pictures, I don't think there I have any doubt about the identity anymore. But thanks for your interest.

 

[Coastal Groovin]

This seems to me a very big find. Its not everyday that you find an endangered species. You should send the pictures and where you found this guy to the Delaware Game and Fish. This could be very important for the conservation of Eastern Tiger Salamanders in DE. I would have to think such a small state would have very limited opportunities to save them and their habitat. Just don't put your name on the letter if you still have him. It was very cool to see what PA tigers might have looked like if we hadn't already bulldozed their ponds into shopping mails and car lots.