Tiger Salamander

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

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A burrow with a salamander in it

Tiger salamanders are Ambystoma tigrinum and the closely related barred tiger salamander, Ambystoma mavortium, the big spotted diggers of North America. The 6 to 14 inch size in the quick facts covers both the slimmer eastern animals and the very large barred ones in the pet trade. They are hardy, often personable at feeding time, and almost invisible the rest of the day because they are underground. Beginner is a fair label for a captive-bred animal if you like a pet you mostly do not see.

Lifespan is listed at 10 to 16 years. Temperature should stay about 60 to 72°F, humidity 70 to 80 percent, in a 20-gallon or larger terrestrial tank. Depth of substrate matters more than height. They need soil or a similar mix that holds a burrow. Gravel and chunky bark are impaction risks. A water dish wide enough to soak, and too shallow to trap them, finishes the furniture.

Worms, not a mouse habit

Earthworms, crickets, and waxworms are the foods named in the quick facts. Waxworms are candy. Earthworms are the meal. They will beg, and they get fat. A salamander that is wider than its head and cannot be bothered to burrow is overfed. Tong-feeding is useful and also how they learn that fingers might be food. Keep the sessions short.

Do not house them together by default. Larvae of some Ambystoma become cannibal morphs with huge heads, and adults will eat smaller salamanders. Wild animals may be protected where you live. Buy captive-bred and skip the roadside ditch.

Heat and a stuck shed of dirt

Summer heat is the emergency. They stop eating, the burrow collapses into a soggy mess, and skin infections follow. Cool the room before you shop for medicine. If appetite is still gone, use ARAV to find a clinic. The not-eating page and the checker are the guides on this site. Animals are often $20 to $40. A burrow-friendly setup is about $100 to $200.

Tiger salamander questions

How big do tiger salamanders get?

The quick facts say 6 to 14 inches. Barred tiger salamanders are the bulky ones at the top of that range. Plan the tank for the adult, not the juvenile in the cup.

Do they need water to swim?

Adults are terrestrial burrowers. Give deep moist soil and a water dish. An aquarium full of water is the wrong life stage unless you truly have an aquatic larva or a neotenic animal.

Can two tiger salamanders live together?

It is a bad default. Some populations produce cannibalistic morphs, and a big adult can eat a smaller one. One salamander per tank is the peaceful choice.

How long do they live?

Often 10 to 16 years, sometimes longer, when kept around 60 to 72°F on earthworms and insects rather than a constant stream of fatty prey.