The Spotted Salamander Care Cheat-Sheet
Bognookhonest amphibian care · bognook.com
Spotted Salamander — Care Cheat-SheetIntermediateA secretive, long-lived native mole salamander — keep it cool and let it burrow.
📋 At a glance
- Tank
- Terrestrial 10–20 gal (1), deep moist substrate
- Temp
- Cool 60–68°F
- Floor
- Deep moist soil/coco fibre to burrow — no gravel
- Food
- Earthworms, crickets, small insects
- Lifespan
- 20+ years
✅ Hardy and remarkably long-lived if kept cool — a decades-long native to admire.
🛒 Before you buy
- A cool spot under ~68°F
- Deep moist burrowing substrate + hides
- A shallow dish of dechlorinated water
- The acceptance that it stays buried most of the time
A healthy one: Glossy black with yellow spots · well-fleshed · clear skin · burrowing normally.
🚨 See a vet / act now if…
- Thin body / weight loss
- Not eating
- Skin lesions or fungus
- Signs of overheating
Cool them down, reduce stress, and contact an exotics vet — most issues are reversible if caught early.
⛔ Never
- Warm tanks
- Gravel or swallowable substrate
- Frequent handling (absorbs oils/salts)
🌿 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. 💚
