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Cave Salamander
Eurycea lucifuga
The Cave Salamander is a slender, bright orange lungless amphibian adorned with stark black speckles. Equipped with large, prominent eyes, it is perfectly adapted for life in dark limestone cave systems.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Caudata
Family:Plethodontidae
Subfamily:Spelerpinae
Genus:Eurycea
Species:Eurycea lucifuga
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Water Temperature
10 - 17 °C
pH Value
7 - 8
Environment
Freshwater / Semi-aquatic
Humidity
80 - 100 %
Day temperature
12 - 18 °C
Night temperature
10 °C
Ambient temperature
12 - 18 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to limestone cave systems, abandoned mines, and wet crevices of the central and eastern United States (karst regions). They inhabit the twilight zone of caves near moisture.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders). Commonly known as the Cave Salamander. Unlike true obligate troglobites, they are not blind and have large eyes adapted for night vision.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and cave-dwelling. They are agile climbers on wet vertical stone surfaces and stalactites. They hunt small insects and spiders using their projectile tongues.
Morphology: Slender body reaching 12-16 cm. Vivid orange, reddish, or yellow-orange dorsal skin speckled with distinct black spots. Eyes are large and protruding. They lack lungs and breathe entirely through their moist skin. The skin lacks macroscopic venom glands, making it highly vulnerable to direct contact with irritating chemicals. Biological studies indicate low genetic variability among the isolated populations inside single cave systems.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Tall vertical terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm). Provide wet, vertical rock wall surfaces (slate or polyurethane rock walls). Include a shallow cold-water area at the bottom.
Lighting and Heating: Cold-temperate species. Must maintain constant cool temperatures between 12-18°C year-round. Temperatures above 22°C are highly stressful and can be fatal. Keep in a dark area; no bright lighting is needed.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity (90-100%) with good ventilation. Use chemically pure, dechlorinated water for misting; their lungless skin is highly permeable to toxins.
Feeding and Supplementation: Feed small insects such as fruit flies, springtails, dwarf isopods, and small worms. Dust prey with calcium and vitamins.
Compatibility: Peaceful and gregarious. Can be kept in small groups in cave-themed setups. Do not mix with other species.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to heat and ammonia buildup. Never handle with bare hands; skin oils and body heat can cause fatal shock. Check for fungal infections. It is advisable to install a digital thermometer with an alarm to constantly monitor that the temperature does not exceed the critical threshold. The presence of small pieces of decayed wood promotes springtail growth.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to limestone cave systems, abandoned mines, and wet crevices of the central and eastern United States (karst regions). They inhabit the twilight zone of caves near moisture.
Origin
North America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 18.1 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 18.1 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 18.1 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.
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Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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