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Salamanders
📋 At a glance
- Tank
- Aquatic 55 gal+ (1), cold and cycled
- Temp
- COLD 50–68°F (may need a chiller)
- Floor
- Sand or bare bottom + hides — no gravel
- Food
- Earthworms, fish, crustaceans
- Lifespan
- 20+ years
✅ Hardy and very long-lived in genuinely cold, clean water — a fascinating aquatic native.
🛒 Before you buy
- A large, COLD-water tank (a chiller in warm climates)
- Strong filtration + excellent oxygenation
- Sand/bare bottom + hides
- The knowledge they live 20+ years
A healthy one: Full, red bushy gills · well-fleshed · clear skin · calm on the bottom in cold water.
🚨 See a vet / act now if…
- Gills receding or pale
- Not eating
- Fungus or lesions
- Gasping (too warm / low oxygen)
⛔ Never
- Warm water (a killer)
- Gravel
- A poorly-oxygenated tank
Common mudpuppy questions
How hard are Mudpuppys to keep — are they good for beginners?
Advanced. A fully-aquatic, permanently-gilled native giant — for cold-water specialists.
What do Mudpuppys eat?
Earthworms, fish, crustaceans
What size tank do Mudpuppys need?
Aquatic 55 gal+ (1), cold and cycled
What temperature do Mudpuppys need?
COLD 50–68°F (may need a chiller)
What substrate do Mudpuppys need?
Sand or bare bottom + hides — no gravel
How long do Mudpuppys live?
20+ years
What are the signs Mudpuppys are sick?
See an exotics vet if you notice: Gills receding or pale; Not eating; Fungus or lesions; Gasping (too warm / low oxygen).
📚 More salamanders guides
🎓 Ready to go deeper?
Past the basics — genetics & morphs, responsible breeding, tankmates, and advanced setups. Same plain voice, no ceiling:
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