Marbled salamander – Ambystom opacum

[Thomas]

News from the caudate front:

Last weekend I got five CB juveniles of the “marbled salamander” (Ambystoma opacum). Not to confuse with the “marbled newt” (Triturus marmoratus).

The special on this species is the females lays the eggs at land under small caves or similar. But the larvae development happens later in water. In nature rainfalls flooding the aerea with the eggs, and the larvas start to hatch. 

Spawning season is late autumn and with a big portion of luck mine are next years autumn old enough to reproduce. Currently they are round about one year old and 6-7 cm (2,3-2,7 “).

 

Cheers,

Thomas

[Matt]

Beautiful species. Where is this one from Thomas?

[Thomas]

Copied from wikipedia:

Marbled salamanders are found in the eastern United States, from southern New England to northern Florida, and west to Illinois and Texas.

[oaken]

I really like the markings on these. Do these need a colder period, too?

[Thomas]

Yes, but I’m not sure which is the best time. Ok, this year without spawning activities it is no question, next year I have to see.

 

What I can say after one week of keeping them, they aren’t so easy to feed as my Notophthalmus. I must place the food before the hiding places. At the moment it doesn’t work to throw some micro crickets in the tank as I can do it at the Notophthalmus.

 

They like wax moth larvae…

 

The tank

 

[Jrp]

Those are very attractive. This is yet another local species that I have yet to see in  the wild.

[Thomas]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0YO6dASMP4&

[Author]

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