Tiger Salamander
(Ambystoma tigrinum)

Tiger salamanders can be found along from southern Canada to Mexico and grow to be six to thirteen inches long. The tiger salamander has wide rounded snout with a stocky body and small eyes. The colors vary from black to olive green or even yellow. The tiger salamander gets its name from the dark spots or blotches on a lighter background or yellow spots on a dark body. Male tiger salamanders generally have a longer tail.

Difficulty

NOVICE: The tiger salamander's is an excellent choice for hobbyists to keep.

Requirements

An enclosure, such as:

• Glass or acrylic aquarium (15 gallons or more, depending on the number of tiger salamanders kept) with a secure lid
• Aquarium Filter

Substrate, such as:

• Large Aquarium Gravel

A heating element, such as:

• None

Enclosure

A 15-gallon aquarium with a secure wire mesh top is adequate for one to two tiger salamanders. Tiger salamanders are nocturnal and like moist surroundings with places to hide and burrow. Live plants can be used to help maintain the enclosures humidity levels. Pieces of drift wood and cork bark also provide great places for your tiger salamander to hide as well. A large shallow water dish should also be provided.

Heating and Light

Tiger salamanders do well at room temperature. Daytime temperatures for tiger salamanders can range from 65°F to 75°F wile nighttime temperatures can drop as low as 60° F. Tiger salamanders rarely need any additional heat sources. Ultraviolet light is also not required, but tiger salamanders will do well with photoperiod provided by a regular fluorescent light.

Diet

Tiger salamanders eat anything they can fit in their mouths in the wild. In captivity tiger slamanders can be fed crickets, earthworms, wax worms and night crawlers. Tiger salamanders can also occasionally be offered pinky mice. Catching wild insects to feed your tiger salamander can be risky as these insects may contain pesticides that are harmful to your tiger salamander. Because tiger salamanders can be cannibalistic it is not recommended to house smaller tiger salamanders with larger tiger salamanders.