Groundhog
New member
I have a question for John or anyone else who works with Salamandra species.
I understand that the Portuguese and North African sub-species are supposedly more heat tolerant than those from central Europe. Just how heat tolerant? While I do not keep any truly high-heat herps (e.g., varanids, uromastyx, etc.), my place does get fairly warm in summer; I do use A/C at night. I keep American hylids, lowland neotropical hylids and rhacophorids, and they handle it fine (see pic).
In contrast, my set ups were too warm for Gastrotheca, which are more montane (they got a new home!). In caudates, I have kept Tylototriton shanjing long term and they were okay--didn't like summer heat, just hung out in the Episcia. In aquatic salamandrids, my Pleurodeles and Paramesotriton were fine with regular water changes (though the ribbed newts didn't start breeding again till Fall). I suspect that Salamandra just won't tolerate low 80s for a few days. (A couple of folks I know who kept European fire salamanders stuck them in a wine frig in the summer!)
P. S. Pics are to show the herp room is a humid plant room.
I understand that the Portuguese and North African sub-species are supposedly more heat tolerant than those from central Europe. Just how heat tolerant? While I do not keep any truly high-heat herps (e.g., varanids, uromastyx, etc.), my place does get fairly warm in summer; I do use A/C at night. I keep American hylids, lowland neotropical hylids and rhacophorids, and they handle it fine (see pic).
In contrast, my set ups were too warm for Gastrotheca, which are more montane (they got a new home!). In caudates, I have kept Tylototriton shanjing long term and they were okay--didn't like summer heat, just hung out in the Episcia. In aquatic salamandrids, my Pleurodeles and Paramesotriton were fine with regular water changes (though the ribbed newts didn't start breeding again till Fall). I suspect that Salamandra just won't tolerate low 80s for a few days. (A couple of folks I know who kept European fire salamanders stuck them in a wine frig in the summer!)
P. S. Pics are to show the herp room is a humid plant room.