hellbender

(cryptobranchus alleganienis) has anyone tried to keep them, any tips? we see then often here and have thought about keeping one for a few months
thanks

I have never personally kept them, but I know we have some members here that do, hopefully they will be along to help you.

Hellbenders are a threatened species and in many places are protected by law. They do not make good captives and rarely survive very long. They are adapted to life in cold, fast flowing, highly oxygenated, streams; an environment that is very difficult to reproduce in a home aguarium.

Yeah, as Merlin said, they're listed as either threatened or endangered in most states within their range. It may not be legal for you to obtain one. On top of that, they can be difficult to keep, as Merlin also pointed out. On the plus side though, if you are able to get one, and can keep it properly, they can live for over 30 years. They're pretty neat. Some of the largest salamanders on earth, and related to the Japanese giant salamander.

Well I just left a meeting with our local waterways conservation officer, he told me in our area you can keep no more then two hellbenders of any size /sex cool thing is he hooked me up with a guy who has two and has had them for over 5 years , so plan on a vist with him and see how he has his tank set up, we see them every summer in the small creek that run past our property so getting them would not be the hard part, just not sure if we want to go through the trouble of setting a tank up for them lots of special needs for them to do well , will give it more thought

Cool, let us know what you decide

that sounds awesome!!