Where to find Dwarf Waterdog

[Bottomfeeder]

Hey guys, I'm trying to convince my parents to let me set up a tank for a Dwarf Waterdog Necturus puctatus. I would make a WTB thread but I am not 100% sure my parents would go for the idea, so first things first, I would like to locate a source for the,. is there any online place that sells them, or any pet store/wholesaler/supplier that carries them in my area?

 

[Noto]

I have never seen any of the small Necturus available in the trade. If you do find some they will be wild caught, just so you know. Even N. maculosus has very seldom been bred in captivity.

Is there a reason you are set on that species in particular? There are other unusual paedomorphs that are more readily available, such as dwarf and lesser sirens and some of the Mexican Ambystoma.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Well, I would love to get my hands on a Common Mudpuppy, but my limit is a 10g, and I figure since they say you can keep an Axylotyl in a 20L, a 6" Waterdog would be fine...
Anywho, to be more to the point, I just really like the larger species but I don't have a big enough tank available right now.

 

[Gearhead]

I dont know where to get them but if you find them let us know. I've always wanted to get one.

 

[Noto]

Well, I would love to get my hands on a Common Mudpuppy, but my limit is a 10g, and I figure since they say you can keep an Axylotyl in a 20L, a 6" Waterdog would be fine...
Anywho, to be more to the point, I just really like the larger species but I don't have a big enough tank available right now.

I wouldn't keep any Necturus in a 10 gallon, no matter how small it was. Water quality is less stable in a small tank, and with a sensitive animal like a waterdog, instability spells trouble.

I suggest you check out some of the big newts such as Pachytriton labiatus, Paramesotriton hongkongensis, or Pleurodeles waltl. These guys are similar in size to dwarf waterdogs, but because of the fact that they breathe air, they are less sensitive to oxygenation and water temperature and so are easier to maintain than waterdogs. They are also readily available in the pet trade, with even captive bred individuals offered pretty often.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/ is a great place to find salamander breeders and care information. Good luck!

 

[Bottomfeeder]

I am a member at Caudata. My username is Tigerpuffer
Are there any externally-gilled Salamanders like the Necturus genus that CAN be kept in a 10?

 

[Noto]

Cool, my screen name is Nathan over there. I'd say the best bet for a permanently-gilled salamander for a 10 gallon is a dwarf siren (Pseudobranchus species). They're not very common in the trade but do pop up now and again. I haven't kept dwarfs, but I've kept lesser sirens, and they are hardy captives who do fine in warmer conditions than most salamanders can tolerate. I keep mine at room temp. They would probably do OK at any temp below 80 F. You really don't even need a filter on a siren tank, just stuff it with plants.

There are gilled adults of some of the smaller Ambystoma, such as A. macrodactylum and A. talpoideum, but they tend to metamorphose when stressed. Same with gilled adult newts.