Decor
- Cork bark or logs to hide under
- Plastic plants for cover and visual interest
- Large water dish — big enough for a soak
- No heat dome, mat, or UV fixture required
Miscellaneous · Care guide
Salamander Care Guide
Caudata · Fire Salamander focus
Over 700 species worldwide; about a third in North America. This guide concentrates on the Fire Salamander of central and southern Europe — cool, damp, nocturnal, and terrestrial with no supplementary heat.
At a glance
Quick facts
Key parameters for day-to-day husbandry. Full detail is in the sections below.
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Heating
None
Cool room only
-
Environment
Damp
Nocturnal · cool
-
Spray
1–2× / day
2× in hot weather
-
Adult feed
Every 2–3 days
Babies more often
01 · Housing
Enclosure & housing
Terrestrial (ground-dwelling) amphibians that need more floor space than height, a damp humidity-retentive setup, cork or log hides, and a large soak dish — without any heat source.
Adult minimum size
18″ W × 12″ D × 12″ H
Glass, plastic, or acrylic tank. Prefer ground area over height — they are terrestrial, not arboreal.
Substrate
- Humidity-retaining mix for a fairly damp environment
- Orchid bark, coir or coconut bark, moss, and leaf litter
- Full clean every four to six weeks if kept relatively clean
Cleaning
- Daily: spot clean to keep the environment fresh and limit bacteria
- Every 4–6 weeks: throw away old substrate, disinfect decor and enclosure, replace with fresh substrate, return clean dry decor
Housing diagram
Enclosure example
Front view 18″ × 12″ (depth 12″) · cork / log hides · plastic plants · large soak dish · damp substrate · no heat
- Adult minimum — 18″ × 12″ × 12″ glass, plastic, or acrylic; ground area over height
- No heat — cool room temperatures only; do not add supplementary heating
- Hides — cork bark or logs to hide under
- Plastic plants — cover and visual interest
- Large soak dish — big enough for a soak; treated or bottled water only
- Substrate — orchid bark, coir or coconut bark, moss, and leaf litter
02 · Climate
Temperature, humidity & water
Cool ambient only — no heat gradient, no UV. Focus on a damp environment, safe water, and avoiding heat stress.
Temperature — cool ambient only
They do not need supplementary heating. They need cool temperatures and do not fare well in hot weather. Use the coolest area in the coolest room of your house.
- No heat bulb, mat, or CHE
- No UV lighting required on this sheet
- Frequently bred outdoors in the UK
- Protect from hot weather and warm rooms
Activity & lifestyle
- Nocturnal — active mainly at night
- Terrestrial — ground-dwelling, not climbers
- Appreciate a fairly damp environment
Humidity routine
- Spray once a day
- Spray twice in hotter weather
- Hydration from bowls and water droplets
Climate diagram
Damp environment & water
Daily spray · hotter weather twice daily · large soak dish · treated water only
- Spray — once daily; twice in hotter weather
- Hydration — water bowls and spray droplets
- Soak dish — large enough for a full soak when wanted
- Water safety — de-chlorinator (e.g. Reptisafe) or bottled water only
Water safety
- Provide a large water dish big enough for a soak
- Treat all water with a de-chlorinator such as Reptisafe, or use bottled water
- Never use water straight from the tap
Daily damp cycle
Fairly damp environment — spray daily; extra spray in hot weather.
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1 · Daily spray
Once a day
Regular spraying keeps the environment damp and supplies drinking droplets
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2 · Hot weather
Twice daily
Increase spraying in hotter weather; prioritise a cool room location
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3 · Avoid heat
Cool room
No supplementary heat — they do not fare well in hot weather
03 · Nutrition
Diet & feeding
Variety of live food with earthworms as a nutritious staple, dusted every feed, on a slower cool-metabolism schedule.
At a glance
Feeding cheat sheet
- Staples
- Variety of live food · include earthworms
- Adults
- Every 2–3 days · babies more often
- Dust
- Every feed · 4:1 calcium : Nutrobal
- Food size
- Appropriately sized for the animal
Live food
Feed a variety
- Earthworms (very nutritious)
- Other appropriately sized live foods
Metabolism note
Cool temperatures
- Slow metabolism at lower temperatures
- Adults: every 2–3 days is enough
- Babies: feed more often
Supplements — every feeding
Coat food with the store premix of supplements at every feed. The premix is the equivalent of a 4:1 mix of calcium : Nutrobal (4 parts calcium to 1 part Nutrobal).
Adult intake
- Appropriately sized food every 2–3 days
- Include earthworms in the rotation — very nutritious
- Babies need feeding more often than adults
Water & hydration
- Hydration from water bowls or spray droplets
- Large soak dish available at all times
- Treat water with de-chlorinator or use bottled water
04 · Behaviour
Handling & behaviour
Short, gentle sessions with wet cool hands or gloves — hygiene first.
- Step 1
Short periods
They generally do not mind being handled for shorter periods when you are gentle and calm.
- Step 2
Wet, cold hands
Prefer wet, cold hands, or wear disposable gloves — gloves are far more hygienic.
- Hygiene
Wash hands
Always wash or disinfect hands before and after handling to prevent bacteria transfer both ways.
- Warning
No aerosols
Do not use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the animal — the chemicals can be harmful.
05 · Welfare
Health & welfare
Cool housing, damp substrate without neglect, safe water, and regular cleaning are the foundation of salamander welfare.
Best prevention: good husbandry
Cool placement, a damp humidity-retentive setup, treated water, variety of dusted live food, and daily spot cleaning support a healthy salamander.
Questions
FAQ
What size enclosure does a salamander need?
Adult minimum is 18″ wide × 12″ deep × 12″ tall. Fire Salamanders and similar terrestrial species need more ground area than height. Use glass, plastic, or acrylic of a suitable size. Provide humidity-retentive substrate (orchid bark, coir or coconut bark, moss, and leaf litter), cork bark or logs to hide under, plastic plants for cover, and a large water dish for soaking.
Do salamanders need heat or UV?
No. They do not need supplementary heating. They need cool temperatures and do not fare well in hot weather. Place the enclosure in the coolest area of the coolest room in your house. They are frequently bred outdoors in the UK. The care sheet does not call for UV lighting.
How do I keep humidity and water safe?
Keep a fairly damp environment. Spray once a day, or twice in hotter weather. Hydration comes from water bowls and spray droplets. Provide a large water dish big enough for a soak. Treat all water with a de-chlorinator such as Reptisafe, or use bottled water — never straight from the tap.
How should I handle a salamander?
They generally do not mind short, gentle, calm handling. Use wet, cold hands preferably, or wear disposable gloves for better hygiene. Always wash or disinfect hands before and after handling. Do not use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the animal.
What and how often do they eat?
Feed a variety of live food, including earthworms which are very nutritious. Coat food with a premix of supplements every feed — the equivalent of 4 parts calcium to 1 part Nutrobal. Adults with a slow metabolism need appropriately sized food every 2–3 days; babies more often.
Next steps
Ready to set up your Salamander?
Shop heating, housing and lighting on this site, browse livestock when available, or speak to our team for a tailored kit list.
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