(Salamandra salamandra)
Information
The barred-fire salamander is toxic salamander, which secretes
small quantities of poisonous
toxins, so care should be exercised in handling this species. This
specie require
a predominantly terrestrial environment with a water dish sufficient
to accommodate
it. The fire salamanders is a large, heavy-bodied species. And
can attain nearly
10 inches in lenght. And they prefer cooler temperatures, ranging
from 60 to 70
degrees F.
Food
They eat the same sort of food as most amphibians; small invertebrates,
including insects
and other arthropods that they are capable of swallowing.
Mating and Breeding
They breed at night in mild damp weather. Mating occurs on land
and fertilization is
internal. The eggs are retained internally, and when ready to hatch
the female immerses her
hindquarters in the water and releases between 10 and 30 fully
formed larvae. When they
begin to metemorphose, it is necessary to lower water levels to
a mere inch to prevent
them from drowning at this critical period between aquatic and
terrestrial status.
Some gently sloped rock formations are necessary for larvae to
haul out, if
they need to breathe air before the metamorphose is completed.
