Hello there, my name is Sarah I am new to the forum I have been thinking seriously of trying owing a pet Salamander...but I have never owned Amphibians before so I really don't know what the best kind of Salamander would be for me to look into. Or what kind of size tank they would need to live in? would a 10 gal. be good for any kinds of Salamanders or would I need to look at 20 gal. If anyone knows of care sheets that would be helpful too!
I am not going to look into doing this for a while now..but I would really love owning a little Salamander and taking care of it maybe in a few months from now.
So any helpful advise would be wonderful! I promise to post pics once I get my new addtion and get it adjusted to the house. I am probably going to look at getting a Male I think.

Salamander choices are pretty limited for most, but they're cool pets if you ask me. Salamanders in the genus Ambystoma make good beginners and are some of the most common in the pet trade. These would mainly include tiger salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum, and spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum. These species are mainly terrestrial and fossorial.

If you'd prefer something aquatic you'll be more interested in newts, mudpuppies, or axolotls. Fire-bellied newts, genus Cynops, and eastern newts, Notophthalmus viridescens are common newts in the hobby. Rough-skinned newts and a few others are also often seen, but I wouldn't recommend them for beginners.

Mudpuppies and axolotls are aquatic salamanders that retain their gills even in adulthood. As such, caring for them is similar to caring for fish, though water quality is of a somewhat higher priority.

What sort of habitat were you looking to have?

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I really don't know just cuz I have never owned one before so I would have no clue what type of habitat would be best for them...my main concern for right now I think would be if these guys can fit comfertably in a 10gal tank or if I need something bigger. I thought I had heard 10g were ok..but I have been to know mess tank sizes up when looking into new pets. But if you have any advise on haibitats that would be extremly helfull too!
I think I am probably going to go for a non aquatic type of Salamander like a spoted or tiger like you were suggesting I just think something that lives primarily in water..would be a bit too much for my very first Salamander..so something land and what based I think would be what I am wanting to go for.

i personally wouldn't ever put anything in a 10 gallon tank. They are so small its hard to create a temperature gradient (cooler on one side, warmer on the other). I would stick to a 20 gallon at best.

And for the enclosure is totally based on what animal you get. If you get a land salamander, you need to recreated sort of a forest floor. If you get a water one, like a fire bellied newt, they would want a set up that is part water and part land.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

ok I can certainly do a 20g tank...was just wondering...yeah I am thinking of getting a Spotted Salamander I think...so I will probably go with a junglized look for the habitat I think...

I have a spotted salamander that I've kept in a 20 gallon. I've had him for years now. He's in a few inches of potting soil (no fertelizer) with a few inches of leaf cover. I spray his tank on occasion to keep it moist. We actually let him brumate each winter out in the shed. For that we add another 6 inches or so of leaf litter and he's fine in the spring.

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Ken
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do you keep a little pot or bowl I guess I should say of water in with him...if I do look into getting a spotted salamander do I need to look at getting a tank that has a cover to it too? not to sure on the up keep of salamanders so anything would be helpful.