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Salamanders
📋 At a glance
- Tank
- Aquatic 40 gal+ (1), planted, tight lid
- Temp
- 65–78°F
- Floor
- Sand (they burrow) + hides — no gravel
- Food
- Worms, invertebrates, small fish
- Lifespan
- 15–25 years
✅ Surprisingly hardy and more heat-tolerant than a mudpuppy — a long-lived aquatic curiosity.
🛒 Before you buy
- A large planted aquatic tank with a TIGHT lid (they escape)
- A soft sand substrate to burrow into
- Strong filtration + hides
- Target feeding (they have poor eyesight)
A healthy one: Eel-like body, front legs, feathery gills · well-fleshed · clear skin · active at night.
🚨 See a vet / act now if…
- Gills receding
- Not eating
- Fungus or lesions
- Gasping at the surface
⛔ Never
- Gravel (impaction)
- An open-topped tank
- Small tankmates it will eat
Common siren questions
How hard are Sirens to keep — are they good for beginners?
Advanced. An eel-like aquatic salamander with only front legs — a hardy oddball for the dedicated keeper.
What do Sirens eat?
Worms, invertebrates, small fish
What size tank do Sirens need?
Aquatic 40 gal+ (1), planted, tight lid
What temperature do Sirens need?
65–78°F
What substrate do Sirens need?
Sand (they burrow) + hides — no gravel
How long do Sirens live?
15–25 years
What are the signs Sirens are sick?
See an exotics vet if you notice: Gills receding; Not eating; Fungus or lesions; Gasping at the surface.
📚 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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