Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum
Name	Marbled Salamander
Name Lat.	Ambystoma opacum
Synonym	Salamandra opaca
Family	Mole Salamanders
Family lat.	Ambystomatidae
Order	Salamanders
Order lat.	Caudata
Origin	North America
Habitat	Wetlands
Diet	Carnivore
Humidity	70-90 %
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, group
Care Level	Moderate
Breeding	Simple
Housing	Humid terrarium
Life Span	15 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	10 cm
Temperature	16-20 °C
Housing Size	100 x 60 x 50 cm
US Units
Size	3.9"
Temperature	61-68 °F
Housing Size	40" x 25" x 20"

Distribution and habitat

The range of the primarily crepuscular to nocturnal marbled cross-toothed newt is the southeastern United States, extending from New Hampshire to northern Florida and from Louisiana to Texas. There are several populations that differ in coloration and markings. They live in deciduous forests near bodies of water and in marshes, usually hidden in loose substrate

Maintenance

The data are the minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals:

1-2 animals

ground area in m²: GL x 0,01

The total length (GL) is measured at the largest animal. For each additional animal the floor space has to be increased by 25 %. A terrarium of L 100 x W 60 x H 50 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

They need a terrarium structured with roots, flat stones and cork tubes (hiding places and visual protection), a moisture-retaining substrate, e.g. of bark mulch-soil mixture with peat, foliage and sphagnum moss as well as a shallow, easy-to-clean water basin as drinking and bathing vessel. To allow burrows to be dug, the substrate should be about 20 cm deep in some places and about half should always be kept moist. Ficus pumila and Scindapsus, for example, are suitable for planting. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better.

Temp. day: 16-20 °C

Temp. night: 14-18 °C

Humidity: 70-90

Lighting with daylight fluorescent tubes must be 12-14 hrs, depending on the season.

Diet

The food supply should preferably consist of crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, maggots, caterpillars, earthworms, millipedes, slugs, zophobas and mealybug larvae, supplemented with commercially available special food mixtures for insectivorous reptiles. Feeding animals should be enhanced by gifts of ripe fruits or vegetables before feeding. It is important to add minerals and vitamins regularly, e.g. by pollinating the feeders. Adult animals should be offered food daily, young animals several times a day.

A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Courtship, mating and egg laying take place on land. The female lays between 30 and 200 eggs in a moist depression and guards them. When the rains begin, the eggs are flooded and washed into a nearby body of water, where the gill-bearing larvae hatch. This marks the end of the female's brood care. After 2-3 months the transformation (metamorphosis) is complete and they leave the water

Flake or granulated food for ornamental fish and small live food (Artemia nauplii, Cyclops) are suitable as rearing food.

Important

Direct sunlight and temperatures above 20 °C are not tolerated in the long term.

They can climb vertically on glass panes, accordingly the terrarium must be well covered.

A resting period of 2-3 months is recommended. For this, the lighting duration must be shortened by 4-6 hours and the temperature lowered to 5-10 °C, depending on the origin.

Before purchase, a terrarium should be prepared that meets the species-specific needs. Good ventilation without drafts is necessary, as well as equipment for measuring temperature and humidity. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and should be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Special attention must be paid to thorough hygiene and impurities must be removed regularly.

Further literature can be found in your pet store

References

Text: Serena Werle; Image: Franz Lowak 

Source: ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag; VDA & DGHT (2006): Allgemeine Haltungsrichtlinien für Molche und Salamander

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF