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AmphibianTerrestrialEasy
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Barred Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma mavortium
The Barred Tiger Salamander is a breathtaking Western subspecies that displays highly defined, stark yellow and black vertical barring. It is a robust, terrestrial burrower that appreciates deep soil.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Caudata
Family:Ambystomatidae
Genus:Ambystoma
Species:Ambystoma mavortium
Formerly known as:Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium, Ambystoma tigrinum melanostictum, Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
18 - 22 °C
Night temperature
12 - 15 °C
Ambient temperature
18 - 22 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
None
Species description
Geographic Origin and Habitat: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about geographic origin and habitat for Ambystoma mavortium. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about taxonomy and genetics for Ambystoma mavortium. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Behaviour and Habits: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about behaviour and habits for Ambystoma mavortium. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about morphology and sexual dimorphism for Ambystoma mavortium. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A very large faunabox or a horizontal glass terrarium (minimum 36x18x18 inches) is perfect. Aerial decor is USELESS (they do not climb). The single vital requirement is DIGGING CAPACITY: they need 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) of organic substrate composed of coco coir, sphagnum moss, and clean topsoil, kept soft to allow them to bury themselves comfortably. Add large hides (cork half-logs) and decaying oak leaves on the surface.
Lighting and Heating: They shine in COLD temperatures. The ideal room is a basement or a cool room: daytime temperature 64-72°F (18-22°C) (absolutely never exceeding 77°F / 25°C, which causes fatal stress). At night they can comfortably drop to 55-60°F (12-15°C) without blinking an eye. They do not need UVB, nor heating lamps (a heat mat should only be used if living in a freezer).
Humidity and Hydration: Constant humidity of 70-80%. The deep soil MUST be perpetually damp to the touch, but never soaking wet or waterlogged (squeezing it in your hand should not drip mud). Salamander respiration occurs largely through the skin (cutaneous respiration), which must remain wet to exchange gases. Mandatory water bowl: must be huge but very shallow (they swim poorly and can drown) where they love to soak for hours.
Feeding and Supplementation: Bottomless pits. Opportunistic carnivores. The diet of choice is giant Canadian nightcrawlers, waxworms, crickets, locusts, and slugs. Avoid insects with very hard shells (beetles) due to the risk of intestinal impaction. Never feed them mouse pinkies except on very rare occasions, to avoid lethal fatty liver disease. Calcium and vitamin powder once a week.
Compatibility: Very peaceful, they are not territorial and can live in large groups if the tank is immense, provided the specimens are of the *exact same size*. Never place a small one with an adult, because cannibalism (not out of malice but blind hunger) is guaranteed: they will swallow anything that fits in their mouth.
Health and Common Diseases: Never handle them with bare or dry hands! The salts, oils, or even just the heat of a 98.6°F human hand destroys their vital mucous layer, intoxicating or burning them. Always use wet nitrile gloves. They risk lethal bowel impaction if kept on gravel or small pebbles, which they accidentally ingest when snapping at worms.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species originates from: Nord America Centrale (Pianure aride).
Origin
Central America and CaribbeanNorth America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- 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
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
