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Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
The spotted salamander is a large, terrestrial North American amphibian identified by striking yellow spots on its black body. It requires a 75L woodland terrarium, moist substrate, and a varied insectivorous diet.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Caudata
Family:Ambystomatidae
Genus:Ambystoma
Species:Ambystoma maculatum
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 80 %
Day temperature
18 - 22 °C
Night temperature
12 - 16 °C
Ambient temperature
18 - 22 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 40 L
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed throughout eastern North America, from eastern Canada down to the southeastern United States. It is a strictly fossorial species, spending most of the year deep underground in leaf litter, rodent burrows, or under rotting logs in deciduous forests. They emerge only at night during early spring rains to migrate to breeding pools.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A member of the Ambystomatidae family, commonly known as mole salamanders. It features a robust, cylindrical body and a broad snout. A unique biological aspect is its symbiotic relationship with green algae (Oophila amblystomatis), which grows inside the egg envelopes and even within embryonic tissue, providing oxygen to the developing embryos.
Behavior and Habits: Highly secretive and fossorial, remaining hidden underground for most of the year. During the spring, they migrate in large numbers to vernal pools to breed. In captivity, they remain buried under substrate or moss, emerging at night to hunt. They feed by seizing prey with their wide jaws.
Morphology: A large salamander, reaching 15 to 25 cm in length, and capable of living for over 20 years. Females are generally larger, wider, and heavier than males, particularly when gravid. During the breeding season, males exhibit a swollen cloaca.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a spacious terrestrial enclosure (minimum 60x40 cm). The substrate is the most important element and should consist of a thick layer (15-20 cm) of damp organic soil, peat moss, and sphagnum moss covered with leaf litter to allow digging. Include cork bark tunnels and half-buried shelters.
Lighting and Heating: Adapted to cool climates. Temperatures must be kept low, ideally between 15 and 20°C. They are highly sensitive to heat; temperatures exceeding 24°C can cause severe thermal stress and death. No special lighting is required, as they are nocturnal and subterranean.
Humidity and Hydration: Keep the substrate consistently damp (around 70-80% humidity) but not muddy. Provide a shallow water dish with clean, declorinated water, which should be changed daily. Good ventilation is necessary to prevent mold growth and bacterial skin issues.
Feeding and Supplementation: Feeds on a variety of invertebrates, with earthworms being the staple diet. They also consume crickets, roaches, and waxworms. Food should be dusted with calcium and vitamins containing D3 once a week for adults.
Compatibility: Solitary and docile. They can be housed individually or in small groups if ample hiding spots are provided. Avoid housing them with different species, and ensure tankmates are of similar size to prevent cannibalism of smaller individuals.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to skin absorption of chemicals and toxins. Never handle them with bare hands, as skin oils, soaps, or lotions can be lethal. They are prone to fungal infections and bacterial dermatosis if the enclosure is kept too dirty or warm.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed throughout eastern North America, from eastern Canada down to the southeastern United States. It is a strictly fossorial species, spending most of the year deep underground in leaf litter, rodent burrows, or under rotting logs in deciduous forests. They emerge only at night during early spring rains to migrate to breeding pools.
Origin
North America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 24.8 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 24.8 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 24.8 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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