Red Back Salamander - Captivity

Captivity

Red back salamanders are popular pets because of their hardiness. Cages do not need to be exceptionally large, and a common sweater box may be used with small holes poked on the sides. This can be done by using a hot pin. The enclosure must have a secure lid, for red back salamanders are able to climb on smooth surfaces. They require driftwood and some sort of ground cover in them to keep the salamander feeling secure. The environment must be partially moist and kept out of direct sunlight or the salamander's skin will dry out and it will suffocate. Too much water can cause stress especially when it forms pools (salamanders can swim but hate it because of the lack of oxygen present in water and will drown if they cannot escape).

Ideal temperature for them would be 58 to 65 °F (14 to 18 °C), if it gets over 75 °F (24 °C) the salamander will either dry out and suffocate, or burrow very deeply. If the temperature reaches anywhere from 35–50 °F (2–10 °C) they will start to hibernate and anywhere below freezing they will die if they are not underground. Staple diets consist of small black or red ants, small spiders, pinhead crickets, chopped earthworms, small mealworms or even other salamanders. One should be cautious when putting two red back salamanders that were not found together in a small container with little food; as they are canibalistic, they may eat their own eggs and hatchlings.