Water Changes and Aquatic Amphibians

[SimonL]

Hey folks. I've recently begun building a collection of aquatic amphibians (cheaper than heating fish tanks!). I'm only an amateur at keeping amphibs, I've owned the easy, "common" stuff; Tiger sals, paddletail newts, toads, aquatic frogs, etc.

Anyways, I was wondering what frequency/amount of water changes you guys use for your aquatic salamanders? I've just been using treated tap water, doing about 1/3 WCs every week or two.

 

[rudukai13]

I can't really answer your question, but can you tell us what aquatic salamanders you're keeping?

 

[SimonL]

I've got an amphiuma, axolotls, siren.

 

[Noto]

I have greater and lesser sirens. The greaters get a 50% wc every 10 days or so. The lessers are in a planted tank, so their wcs are less frequent- 50% about once a month. Adult gilled sallies do get ammonia damage to the gills easily, but nitrates don't seem to bother them any more than they do fish, so as long as your filters are working properly you can wc just as you would for similar-sized fish. Larvae are more sensitive. I've reared Notophthalmus, Eurycea, and Ambystoma larvae, and would usually perform a 25% wc every day or every two days.