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Salamanders
📋 At a glance
- Tank
- Terrestrial woodland viv (24×18 in+ floor) with hides
- Temp
- 60–68°F · MUST stay below ~72°F — a cool-forest species
- Humidity
- High (70–90%): moist substrate + a shallow water dish
- Food
- Earthworms (staple), slugs, crickets
- Lifespan
- 20+ years (captive record ~50)
✅ Astonishingly long-lived and low-fuss — a genuine decades-long companion if you keep it cool.
🛒 Before you buy
- A reliably COOL spot — summer heatwaves are the #1 killer
- A woodland terrarium: moist substrate, leaf litter, cork-bark hides
- A shallow dish of dechlorinated water
- The knowledge that it can outlive most other pets
A healthy one: Rounded body · glossy black skin with bold yellow · clear eyes · active at night and on damp days.
🚨 See a vet / act now if…
- Signs of overheating — restless, drying, gaping (an emergency)
- Not eating, or weight loss
- Skin lesions, fungus or discolouration
- Bloating
⛔ Never
- Temperatures above ~72°F
- Handling (toxic samandarin skin — wash hands, avoid eyes)
- A dry or sun-lit tank
Common fire salamander questions
How hard are Fire Salamanders to keep — are they good for beginners?
Intermediate. Cool, humid and hands-off — heat and handling are the two things that kill them.
What do Fire Salamanders eat?
Earthworms (staple), slugs, crickets
What size tank do Fire Salamanders need?
Terrestrial woodland viv (24×18 in+ floor) with hides
What temperature do Fire Salamanders need?
60–68°F · MUST stay below ~72°F — a cool-forest species
What humidity do Fire Salamanders need?
High (70–90%): moist substrate + a shallow water dish
How long do Fire Salamanders live?
20+ years (captive record ~50)
What are the signs Fire Salamanders are sick?
See an exotics vet if you notice: Signs of overheating — restless, drying, gaping (an emergency); Not eating, or weight loss; Skin lesions, fungus or discolouration; Bloating.
📚 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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Fire Salamander
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