The Salamander Care Cheat-Sheet
Bognookhonest amphibian care · bognook.com
Salamander — Care Cheat-SheetIntermediateCool temperatures are critical, and needs vary a lot by species.
📋 At a glance
- Type
- Terrestrial (tiger/fire) or aquatic — CHECK your species
- Temp
- Cool: ~60–68°F. They hate heat
- Setup
- Moist substrate + hide (land) / cycled water (aquatic)
- Food
- Earthworms and appropriate live prey
- Lifespan
- Often 10–20+ years
🛒 Before you buy
- A cool room or a way to hold temps under ~68°F year-round
- Deep moist substrate + hide (terrestrial) or a cycled tank (aquatic)
- Dechlorinator and a thermometer
- Confirmed species care needs before purchase
A healthy one: Plump tail (fat store) · clear, smooth skin · alert · no lesions.
🚨 See a vet / act now if…
- Thin tail / obvious weight loss
- Not eating
- Skin lesions, fungus, or discolouration
- Signs of overheating (frantic, drying out)
Cool them down, reduce stress, and contact an exotics vet — most issues are reversible if caught early.
⛔ Never
- Warm tanks
- Frequent handling (absorbs oils/salts)
- Guessing the species
🌿 Golden rules (all amphibians)
- Cycle the tank BEFORE the animal (ammonia = 0).
- Always dechlorinate tap water.
- Cool beats warm — most amphibians are cool/cold species.
- Look, don’t handle — their skin absorbs oils & soaps.
- Buy captive-bred, never wild-caught. Quarantine new arrivals.
- Never release a pet into the wild (it spreads disease).
- A real setup costs more than the animal — budget for it.
- When in doubt, ask — no shame in learning. 💚
