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Fire Salamander
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Fire Salamander

Place of Origin and Range The Fire salamander is possibly the best-known salamander species in Europe
Description It is black with yellow spots or stripes to a varying degree; some specimens can be nearly completely black while on others the yellow is dominant. Shades of red and orange may sometimes appear, either replacing or mixing with the yellow according to subspecies.
Adult Size Can grow up to 6 in ( 15 cm )
Accommodation A semi-aquatic, gently filtered aquarium with live plants, with or without large gravel will suffice. Have a large amount of substrate and water to mimic a marsh type habitat.
Lifespan Can live upwards of 20 years
Feeding / Diet Salamanders eat worms, insects, wax worms, crickets, and some pelleted fish foods are accepted.
Breeding Males and females look very similar except during the breeding season, when the most conspicuous difference is a swollen gland around the male's vent. This gland produces the spermatophore, which carries a sperm packet at its tip. The courtship happens on land. After the male becomes aware of a potential mate, he confronts her and blocks her path. The male rubs her with his chin to express his interest in mating, then crawls beneath her and grasps her front limbs with his own in amplexus. He deposits a spermatophore on the ground, then attempts to lower the female's cloaca into contact with it. If successful, the female draws the sperm packet in and her eggs are fertilized internally. The eggs develop internally and the female deposits the larvae into a body of water just as they hatch. In some subspecies the larvae continue to develop within the female until she gives birth to fully formed metamorphs. Breeding has not been observed in neotenic fire salamanders.
Other Considerations This salamander is also a "beginner" pet, despite being a toxic defensive amphibian. 1-2 fire salamanders can live in a 22 gallon aquarium.
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