Tiger salamanders...

[Ravnos]

I was going to my local bait shop to pick up turtle food and I saw a sign that said 'waterdogs for sale' ... they sell them as bait, so I said wtf, I'll get one. Well, he hands me this little juvinile tiger salamander - and I try to resist the urge to explain to him that its not a waterdog at all and then take him home and set him up. Now to bulk him up and wait for him to change.



Rav

[eddie]

I do believe you have found your calling, Rav! (posting pics)

Nice looking 'dog'
[addsig]

[Ravnos]

I even named him Snoopy.

[addsig]

Are you gonna wait on him or force the change? How big is it currently?

I know on some of them if your remove about an 1/8 of the water each day (at the right time of year, which is fast approaching), they change a heck of a lot quicker. Simulates their shallow breeding ponds drying up...
[addsig]

[Ravnos]

He's already growing pretty fast, and his gills are near gone. I'm not really forcing the change, I'm just very slowly reducing the amount of water, and increasing the amount of available land - he's coming up for air quite frequently now, so I think he's about ready to change completely, but he hasn't been spending any time on land yet.


(Look Ma, No Gills!)


(Can you spot the salamander?)

Rav

[Woapalanne]

Hmm... is that him behind the leaf? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

And did you get it cheaper because the guy thought it was something else? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
[addsig]

That would be his little head peeking out from under the lily pad. Nice set up Rav.

How often do you change the H2O?

The change was darn fast! A little over a month...
[addsig]

[Ravnos]

I got him cheap because he was sold as fishing bait. I may go get more if I successfully manage to morph him into a real salamander. I can buy them for a buck and sell the tigers for 30 or so once they're morphed. =) All it costs me is a little time, and some trout chow - which I've been feeding him.

He lost his gills pretty quickly... but think about it, this guy is native to much of the US, including here in Texas. In the spring, when the rains come, they would be born in small pools of water... come summer, those pools are drying up fast. They have to morph pretty quickly in order to survive. Those salamanders that end up, by chance, in more permanent bodies of water, can and do, stay in their juvenile state much longer... months, even years.

Rav
[addsig]

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[Amurtigermaster]

I was surfing old forums and I know that in NY tigers are native and THERE IS A GIANT FINE AND JAIL TIME FOR HAVING THEM IN CAP. without all the papper work.

[Ravnos]

The Eastern Tiger Salamander barely ranges into New York, if you could manage to find one there, I'd be pretty impressed... I'm not sure if any other state protects them, but since I'm not in one of those states - it don't bother me. Btw, I think your capslock is broken.



Rav

[John_White]

Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) are protected in Virginia & Maryland

[savannah_babe]

awww..thats only a face a mother could love. good luck with your mission rav.

[toker]

those are some sweet looking critters... very interesting.