Steps When Setting Up The Optimum Salamander Habitat

If you want to have a salamander at home, then you need to create the appropriate habitat for them. In order for you to do this, you must be aware about the type of salamander you will most likely keep. You need to make either an aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial salamander habitat.

Since salamanders are amphibians, they would rather choose moist and damp areas to live. This includes both land and water. Majority of the salamanders start to live on land once they reach maturity, however some prefer to stay in the water while journeying to land intermittently.

The first step that you need to do when making a salamander habitat is to research about the species you want to keep at home. This will help you determine what type of habitat you need to make for your salamander. Make sure that you research about the natural habitat of your salamander.

There are different types of salamanders based on their habitat. Listed below are the descriptions about them:

1. Aquatic- This type of salamander spends most of their life in water. They are typically found in pools, rivers, mountain streams, and ponds. Most of these species are usually seen on underwater.

2. Semi-aquatic- Semi-aquatic type of salamanders lives mainly on land; however, they come back to water when mating season arrives in winter. After they lay their eggs, they eventually go back to land. Most of these species live in springs but they can also be located in woodlands and forests during humid or warm weather.

3. Terrestrial- Salamanders that belong to this category are usually seen on wetland as well as in woodland areas. They often reside in wet rocks and stone, logs and leaves where in the place is wet.

4. Arboreal- This type of salamanders finds trees as their chosen habitats. When dry season comes, arboreal salamanders can be found in moist places underneath or perhaps inside the trees. A lot of them can be located in oak and pine trees or other dryer areas. Not similar to their relatives, these salamanders have special ability to climb trees.

After you have learned the type of habitat your salamander needs, you can then create the appropriate house for your salamander. When creating a salamander habitat, you must:

- Buy or create a well-built tank with a secured cover. For aquatic salamanders, you need to put 3-inches of gravel inside the tank positioned in a slope angle. Add some plants and pour enough spring water inside the tank. Spring water is the safest water for them to drink.

- Include sand with gravel around 2 inches thick for land habitat. Top it with garden loam, soil and peat moss. You can add some rocks and bark for them to be able to hide.

- Divide the areas if you have a semi-aquatic salamander. One section should be for the land and the other for water habitat. You still need to make a slope so they can cross land and water easily.

- Regulate the temperature within the range of 69-75 degrees with humidity around 80%. You must also put vent holes so proper ventilation can be observed.

One of the reasons why salamanders abruptly decrease in number is the lack of good salamander habit. Hence, you need to create a suitable place for your salamanders so they can live well. Salamanders are considered as one of the easiest pets to care for, but make sure that you are giving them the right love for them to survive.