Post Liz Reaction

So I had a quick talk with Liz and this is what she told me.

WH: So Liz we have had reports of you being kidnapped, leaving family behind and being on the back of a milk carton, is all this true?

LIZ: Well you know its somewhat true but its for the better. I was I guess kidnapped but I wanted to be. I wanted to escape the environment I was in. My mother left when I was very young, my dad got eaten by a fish and all the other salamanders picked on me. Thats why I made it easy to kidnap me, I wanted to be picked up and start a new life. So in a sense I wasn't kidnapped nor am I leaving any family behind. As for the milk carton I did it, to see if any one noticed.

WH: Wow that's messed up, how are you liking your new life?

LIZ: It's great, I get fed every two days and its my favorite food in the world-crickets. The layout is fantastic. I have got two mainlands separated by a stream. The stream has a large resting rock in it and if I want to cross without getting wet there is a beautiful bridge connecting the mainlands. Also the vegetation provided makes it feel more like my place. And security, nothing beats it, I don't have to worry about predators, the only ones I have take care of me. Its way better than the ditch I was in, or for that matter any salamander home, I've seen others live in cow lagoons and drinking pails or streams with fish its just madness.

WH: Well things sound good can you tell us a little bit about yourself.

LIZ: I am a Blotched Tiger Salamander or scientifically a Ambystoma-tigunum. I am 7 inches long and have a net like pattern of black on grey. My species is very common in Saskatchewan and all over the prairies but I can be found in Colorado, Nebraska, Washington and even Idaho.

WH: What is a regular day like for you?

LIZ: Well in the wild I would burrow under a little bit of soil and every few days when I was hungry I would go hunt for food. I don't mean to brag but I am a pretty good hunter. So if anyone comes over bring live food so I can hunt again. I like crickets best but I'll also eat freshly shed mealworms, earthworms, caterpillars (e.g., wax worms, silk moth larvae), and pinky mice. With pinkies or wax worms, these can be offered as an occasional treat or to fatten me, but because these food items contain high levels of fat, they should not be used as a steady diet. But pretty much anything like that without a hard shell, shells mess with my digestive system and I don't have hands to tear food out their shell.

WH: That was a good pitch but you never answered the question fully, what is a regular day like in captivity.

LIZ: Sorry, its much the same, I do less hiding, but there is no need for it. I can hang out on the bridge or the resting rock. Sometimes I'll burrow in the plant and if I am too hot I'll go for a swim. Ha ha! I can't swim but the water is just deep enough for me to be submerged and still breathe. Its perfect. For exercise I see how far up the wall I can climb. I don't know I think thats it... you know other than like bathrooms stuff.

WH: What about sex Liz? What are you? Won't you miss breeding?

LIZ: Well breeding occurs after rains that trigger migration to breeding ponds. Males usually arrive at the sites before the females and leave after the females and no I won't miss it. There are two ways to tell what a salamander’s sex is (1) Often, the male has a larger cloaca or (2) Often, the female is larger and/or more plump. In my case the rule about the cloaca holds true but because I may tend to be obese in captivity, a plump body may not always indicate a female. It is best to tell during breeding season and unless it is captive bred, you have no way to tell. A good estimate is that if a salamander is sexually mature, it is at least five years old. Some species are slow growing so they may be as old as 7 to 10 years. You can never be certain. Also salamanders can live a LONG time if cared for correctly. A 20-year-old Liz is not out of the question. I have a quote from the CCDorg website that I think best describes it ‘Make sure your family knows what to do with your newts in case you die before the newts do.’

WH: Well Liz that's all the time we have but you gave me some great information thank you so much.

LIZ: It was my pleasure, thank you. Maybe we'll talk again, until then take'r easy.

WH: For sure, I'll see you later.

I also pulled some information I found interesting off the CCDorg website that I would like to share to end my article. Thanks for reading and enjoy. Long Live Liz!

‘I found a salamander/newt outside. Should I keep it?

Maybe, but probably not. First, you need to identify the species and verify that it is legal to keep that particular species in your state/country. Then you need to make sure you can provide the right foods, habitat, and temperature to keep it alive. Remember that newts and salamanders live a LONG time, so you are taking on a very long-term commitment.

Tiger salamanders are an excellent salamander for the beginning caudate enthusiast as they readily feed upon easily procured food items and may be more forgiving of temperature extremes than some other easily available salamanders (e.g., Cynops sp.). Adding to their popularity, many of these animals recognize their keeper and may beg for food. Caution must be taken to avoid overfeeding and obesity. The personality of these endearing caudates will continue to make them a popular pet for many years to come.’