Salamander

Heat stress (summer fatigue)

SignsSluggish, not eating, skin looks dryish, open-mouth breathing, weight loss

PreventionIn summer keep below 20°C with an aquarium chiller or ice packs; place the enclosure on a cool floor

Bacterial skin infection / ulcers

SignsRed or raw skin, cloudy white patches, increased mucus, fingertips or tail tip rotting away

PreventionKeep substrate and water clean, change water and wash the enclosure at least weekly, avoid causing wounds

Water mold (saprolegniasis)

SignsWhite cotton-like growth on body or eggs, larval gills shrinking, sluggishness

PreventionAvoid poor water quality and high water temperature; do not overcrowd larvae and remove leftover food promptly

Intestinal blockage (substrate ingestion)

SignsNot eating, no droppings, swollen belly, regurgitation

PreventionDo not feed on gravel or fine soil; feed with tweezers or a food dish

Rickets (metabolic bone disease)

SignsSoft jaw, deformed spine or limbs, trembling limbs, unable to move

PreventionDust crickets with calcium powder; mix in woodlice and earthworms to avoid an unbalanced diet

Food refusal / wasting

SignsNot eating for weeks, thin tail base, prominent spine, sunken eyes

PreventionProvide cool, dark conditions and vary the prey; not eating in winter is natural

Lost toes or tail

PreventionHouse singly to prevent cannibalism, do not pinch toes with tweezers, no sharp driftwood

First aidKeep alone in a clean container with damp paper towel; see a vet if the wound festers or rots

Skin abrasions

PreventionRemove sharp stones and driftwood from the enclosure; never grab roughly with a net or hands

First aidRinse gently with clean water, keep alone on damp paper towel, see a vet if redness or swelling spreads

Dehydration / drying out

PreventionKeep substrate constantly damp with a mister, provide a water dish, make the lid escape-proof

First aidRehydrate in a container with shallow cold dechlorinated water; if no movement in 30 minutes, see a vet immediately

Falls / crushing

PreventionDo not place the enclosure up high, handle low to the ground during cleaning, keep the lid closed

First aidRest in a container with damp paper towel; see a vet the same day if bleeding from mouth or vent or unable to walk

Salmonellosis

RouteHand-to-mouth after touching tank water, substrate or the animal's skin

PreventionWash hands with soap after care; do not wash enclosures in the kitchen sink

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection

RouteCuts on the hands contacting tank water

PreventionWear gloves if you have cuts; wash hands after water changes

Aeromonas infection

RouteDirty tank water entering a wound

PreventionDo not skip water changes; keep wounded hands out of the water

Skin mucus irritation

RouteHandling bare-handed, then rubbing eyes

PreventionDo not handle bare-handed; move with damp gloves or a container, wash hands afterward

Food

• Small live insects such as crickets, woodlice and earthworms
• Adults: 2–3 insects no wider than the head, 2–3 times a week
• Larvae: a little frozen bloodworm or tubifex daily

Water

• Dechlorinated water in a shallow dish, changed daily
• For larvae, replace 1/3 of the water daily with water of the same temperature

Toys & play

• No toys needed; create an environment to forage under leaf litter and moss
• Tweezer feeding brings out the prey-chasing behavior
• A shallow water area gives the choice to enter and leave the water

Nest, bed & hideout

• Places to burrow under damp moss or leaf litter
• Several shelters such as broken terracotta pots or bark

Bedding & litter

• Damp paper towel (easy to manage and hygienic)
• Clean coconut fiber or leaf mold, dampened and laid thick
• No small gravel, as it is swallowed

Cage / housing material

Plastic tub or glass tank with a sealable, ventilated lid

Size & space

About 30 cm for one adult; larvae in containers that keep each one separate

Layout

• Damp substrate with several hides of moss and shelters
• Shallow water dish in one corner with plenty of land area
• Larvae singly in shallow water with gentle aeration

Placement notes

• North-side floor away from direct sun and heater drafts
• Quiet spot with little vibration; no lighting needed

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Walks and free-roaming are unnecessary and harmful; never take it out of the enclosure
• Chasing prey at night is enough exercise
• Move it minimally, using damp gloves or a small container

Temperature & humidity

Temperature10–20°C; never above 23°C in summer, down to about 5°C is fine in winter

Humidity70–90%, with the substrate always damp

Summer & winter

• Summer: below 20°C with an aquarium chiller, ice packs or an air-conditioned room
• Winter: no heating; let it rest in the cold even if it does not eat

Nail trimming

No claws, so no trimming. Instead, check the whole skin and the toes for loss once a month in a damp container

Brushing, skin & coat care

No brushing. The skin is damaged when it loses mucus, so do not touch with dry hands; let shed skin come off naturally

Other care

Change the water dish and substrate 1–2 times a week and wash the enclosure. Eating its shed skin is normal

Protection from predators

• Use a locking lid so cats and dogs cannot open it
• Keep out mosquitoes and ants; replace moldy substrate immediately
• Never keep outdoors; crows and wild animals will take it

Foreign-body ingestion

Swallows gravel or soil along with food. Feed on paper towel or from a dish; see a vet if the belly swells and no droppings appear

Being stepped on

Small and invisible on the floor. If it gets out, check the floor; if stepped on, rest it in a damp container and see a vet the same day

Getting pinched

Easily caught in the gap between lid and tank or in doors. Always check its position before closing. If pinched and not moving, see a vet the same day

Falls

Dropping the whole enclosure causes crush injuries to the organs. Keep it low; after a fall check for bleeding and walking and see a vet the same day

Escape

Escapes through lid gaps or vents and dies of drying out. A sealed lid is essential. If it escapes, search dark damp gaps and behind furniture at night

Safe release procedure

1. Stay still and wait a few seconds; it usually lets go on its own
2. If not, slowly lower your finger with it into cold water
3. Once it stops moving in the water the jaw relaxes, so release it gently
4. Return it to the enclosure in a dark, quiet place to calm down

After the release

The teeth are tiny and the wound shallow, but rinse under running water and disinfect. If the salamander's mouth is bleeding or deformed, see a vet

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, enclosure temperature and humidity, substrate, diet and date last fed, photos of symptoms; transport in a damp container

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Consciousness: touch the tail with a fingertip to see if it moves, or turn it over to see if it rights itself
• Breathing: watch the throat movement; very slow at low temperatures
• Heartbeat: too small to feel; judge by skin firmness and color

Stopping bleeding

• Press the bleeding site gently with clean damp paper towel
• Do not use styptics or antiseptics; they are absorbed through the skin
• Bleeding that will not stop or a wound that keeps rotting: see a vet immediately

Transport

• Small container lined with damp paper towel, vent holes in the lid
• Ice packs wrapped in a towel against the outside; no direct sunlight