Things You'll Need
- 20-gallon or larger tank
- Large ceramic dish
- Sphagnum moss, pieces of bark, flat pieces of wood, clay plant pot and logs
- Plant mister
- Live food
- Amphibian calcium and vitamin supplement
- Amphibian safe disinfectant
- Cleaning cloths
Instructions
Prepare a terrarium for your salamander. A deep substrate of coconut husk or other amphibian-safe material, such as chemical-free potting compost, gives the animal the opportunity to burrow. Sphagnum moss, logs and large pieces of bark provide hiding and climbing places. Create a pool with a large, shallow ceramic dish full of dechlorinated water. Textured, sloping sides on the dish provide easy access.
Introduce the salamander and let it have a couple of days to become accustomed to its new home before feeding.
Feed the salamander live invertebrate food such as crickets and earthworms two to four times a week. Older salamanders eat less often than juveniles. Dust the food with a calcium and vitamin supplement before giving it to your pet every couple of feeds.
Mist the tank daily or every couple of days to maintain high humidity levels.
Change the water in the dish and remove any feces or dead food from the tank daily.
Clean the tank once or twice a month. Transfer the salamander to a box with some moss for moisture. Dispose of the old substrate and disposable accessories. Wipe down the tank with an amphibian-safe disinfectant. Rinse and dry thoroughly before adding fresh substrate and accessories and replacing the salamander.