Keeping Fire Salamanders and Tiger Salamander

Fire Salamanders and Tiger Salamanders are two of the most commonly seen varieties of tailed amphibians for sale as exotic pets and, being fairly hardy, with good appetites and fairly undemanding in their needs, they are also two of the easiest to keep.

Both of these salamanders grow to a good size – up to 12 inches (30cm) in the case of a really big Tiger Salamander, though admittedly most are somewhat smaller – are attractively marked, naturally inquisitive and can live for ten years or more.

All in all, they make interesting and very rewarding pets.

Fire Salamanders

The European Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) has long been popular as a vivarium pet. They were named after the yellow markings on their coal-black bodies and an old myth that salamanders live in fire – which they certainly don’t! Although exceptional specimens may rival Tiger Salamanders for size, generally they only grow to around 6 to 8 inches (15-20cm) – not exactly a giant, but still sizeable for a salamander.

There are a number of different subspecies of this animal, many of which have their own body patterns. The normal type (Salamandra salamandra salamandra ) – found in central and eastern Europe – have irregular yellow blotches, while in the subspecies typical to northern Europe (S. s. terrestris), the yellow markings often form two unbroken stripes running lengthways along the animal’s back. Other kinds look more like yellow animals with black spots, while in others the yellow is replaced with almost brick red markings; with a bit of research you can soon become quite expert at telling which sub-species you’re looking at and where it would normally be found in the wild.

Fire Salamanders like cool surroundings, so their tank should never get much above 20 degrees C (68F).

Tiger Salamanders

Tiger Salamanders belong to a North American group of amphibians known as “mole salamanders” – after their tendency to hide away underground for most of the day. There are two species sold as exotic pets – the Tiger (Ambystoma tigrinum) and the Barred Tiger (A. mavortium) although other Ambystoma salamanders such as A. maculatum and A. opacum are sometimes seen and are very similar to keep.

These salamanders have stocky bodies, with fairly stout legs, small eyes and a blunt, round snout. Their common name comes from the dark markings on their usually olive green or creamy bodies, which can look a bit like tiger stripes, but as you might expect from a species with a natural range from southern Canada to northern Mexico, there is considerable variation between individuals. While some do make passable tigers, for others you may have to use a bit of imagination!

Tiger Salamanders also do well between 16C (60F) and 21C (70F).

Housing And Feeding Salamanders

Given the size of both kinds of salamanders, a fairly large tank is called for – something around 24 x 16 x 18 inches (60x40x45cm) or more should be adequate to accommodate a pair, unless you do end up with a couple of 12 inch monsters.

The floor material should be able to provide enough moisture, without getting too soggy – sterile compost or sphagnum moss being ideal, though you’ll need to keep a careful watch out for any signs of mould. Some suitably sized pieces of cork bark or sterilised logs will be appreciated as hiding places and you’ll also need to add a shallow water container, large enough to let the inhabitants have a wallow if they feel the need.

It’s very important to keep your salamanders’ home clean; the water should be changed regularly and any uneaten food or droppings routinely removed. Although they are remarkably long-lived animals, in the moist confines of a tank, they can be susceptible to fungus diseases, so cleanliness and vigilance are key to keeping them in good health to a ripe old age.

In the wild, both of these amphibians will eat just about anything that they can get their mouths around, so the usual range of live foods, augmented with earthworms and other assorted garden bugs will be fine for them – dusted occasionally with a good vitamin/mineral powder. Neither Fire Salamanders nor Tiger Salamanders are fussy eaters and both normally exhibit a very healthy appetite in captivity, so feeding is seldom a problem. By the same token, any salamander that consistently refuses to eat should be examined carefully, since this can often be the first sign that something else is wrong.

Both of these kinds of salamanders make fascinating vivarium subjects and in time, many even seem to come to know their owners. Whichever species you do finally choose, you’ll be giving a home to one of the most striking of all the world’s tailed amphibians – and a very rewarding pet.