Author Topic: tiger salamander  (Read 6350 times)

wildmeat

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tiger salamander
« on: June 19, 2011, 11:41:50 PM »
hey guys was out at the old mans for fathers day today and my son and i came across a tiger salamander that was hiding under the horse feeder... so we scooped him up and made a nice habitat for him in a fish tank that is to large beyond means for him... so we got to looking online to what they eat and found they like earthworms... so we march out to the backyard and unearth about 8 of them... well he ate all 8 of them.. and he is no bigger than my thumb...

i guess what my question is... is if anyone knows what a suitable habitat is for him... i made him a hide and he has a nice log and a big patch/pile of grass and i filled the tank bottom with about a cm of water

am i allowed to keep this creature or not? im thinking ill head out tomorrow and buy him some maggots from wholesale sports since i live 10 blocks from there

walking buffalo

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Re: tiger salamander
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2011, 12:14:52 AM »
You can keep wild captured Tiger Salamanders in Alberta. They are listed as a non - licence Animal under the Wildlife Act.  We also have Long Toed Salamanders in Alberta, and it is NOT legal to keep them. Make sure you have a tiger. Where on the Oldman did you find it, that would likely answer the question of species.

Tiger-  http://www.srd.alberta.ca/BiodiversityStewardship/WildSpecies/Amphibians/Salamanders/TigerSalamander.aspx

Long toed- http://www.srd.alberta.ca/BiodiversityStewardship/WildSpecies/Amphibians/Salamanders/LongtoedSalamander.aspx

I used to raise and release tiger salamanders every year as a kid. I caught them as tadpoles, and would release them late in summer. I often kept a couple over the winter.

They are easy to keep healthy. Feed worms and waterbugs (leeches, dragonfly nymphs...) For your and the kids safety, and for the salamander. wash your hands and rinse well before and after handling it. Don't handle it too much....

In the Aquarium,  I made it so there was an area with full water that sloped up to an area with land. Place a sloping rock or log on one side of the tank and place lots moss on it. Basically make a shoreline. I would use several inches of moss so the guys could crawl under it.

Tiger salamanders can live a long time, and grow quite large. It could be a pet for years. Releasing it after a while is a good way to educate the kids. Give them some time with it, with the knowledge it will be released. Later in life the process will be very meaningfull to them.

Enjoy!
« Last Edit: June 20, 2011, 12:36:34 AM by walking buffalo »

wildmeat

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Re: tiger salamander
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2011, 03:21:17 PM »
hey walking ... thanks for the great advice... and yes it is a tiger salamander... the boy loves it so well keep it and see how big we can grow him... he sure does like worms tho lol

Weste

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Re: tiger salamander
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2011, 06:52:48 PM »
WB - Great info.  Didn't know I would learn that today. LOL  Sounds like a great project for the kids.