Looking to get one this week and was wondering how care for them is, really cannot find much on the internet on them.
Any Mud Puppy keepers here.
- Thread starter methos75
- Start date
There are several mudpuppy keepers on caudata.org. The first thing you need to know is whether you have a "true" mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus, or a neotenic tiger salamander, Ambystoma mavortium, which are sometimes sold as mudpuppies.
I haven't kept mudpuppies, but from what I understand the most important thing is to give them a good hiding place and cool (preferably 50-65 F), clean water. They are supposed to be very territorial, so don't keep more than one unless you have a very large tank.
Neotenic tiger salamander care is like that of axolotls; you can easily find a good axolotl care sheet online.
I haven't kept mudpuppies, but from what I understand the most important thing is to give them a good hiding place and cool (preferably 50-65 F), clean water. They are supposed to be very territorial, so don't keep more than one unless you have a very large tank.
Neotenic tiger salamander care is like that of axolotls; you can easily find a good axolotl care sheet online.
For reference, here's a comparison on Nectururus maculosis and a neotenic Ambystoma mavortium, respectively:
The first thing you should look for is the difference in the head - a true mudpuppy will have a very boxy snout, less prominant eyes and a flatter appearance as opposed to the tiger salamander's snubbed snout, clearly evident eyes and rounded head shape. As well, note the dorsal spine running down the full length of the tiger salamander, yet absent in the true mudpuppy. There is a slight difference in gill structure as well, but that should not be your sole deciding factor. I'd advise printing out both of the above pictures and taking them with you when you go to make your purchase, so you can visually compare the animal you're buying to examples of both species.
The first thing you should look for is the difference in the head - a true mudpuppy will have a very boxy snout, less prominant eyes and a flatter appearance as opposed to the tiger salamander's snubbed snout, clearly evident eyes and rounded head shape. As well, note the dorsal spine running down the full length of the tiger salamander, yet absent in the true mudpuppy. There is a slight difference in gill structure as well, but that should not be your sole deciding factor. I'd advise printing out both of the above pictures and taking them with you when you go to make your purchase, so you can visually compare the animal you're buying to examples of both species.
I am thinking they are true Mud Puppies, I only counted four toes on their hind legs which is a Mud Puppy trait.
