Pleurodeles poireti (Spanish ribbed salamander)

Age: 8 to 12 years
Origin: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco
Length: Up to 30 centimeters
The back of this salamander species is brown to gray with black spots. On the flanks, 8 to 10 orange or yellow tubercles can be found that can secrete venom. The underside is white, yellow, or gray, and the underside of the tail is orange-ish.

Care
Experience: Beginner amphibian keeper
Food: Carnivore
Feeding adults: Every 2 to 3 days
Feeding juveniles: Daily
Water bowl: Large water area
Water change: Daily

Diet
This salamander species can be fed with dead or live food, with live food often being preferred. Prey animals that can be fed include mosquito larvae, water fleas, brine shrimp, or earthworms. The newly hatched larvae do not need to be fed for the first few days, as they live off their yolk sac. Afterward, they can be fed water fleas, mosquito larvae, or tubifex worms. When they are larger, young brine shrimp or finely chopped worms can be fed.

Water
Given that salamanders spend the majority of their time in the water, it is important that the water section is larger than the land section. The ideal temperature is between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius; an aquarium cooler can be used to achieve this if necessary. It is recommended to use a pump with a filter to maintain good water quality. However, this pump should not create too strong a current, as they live in stagnant water in the wild. The water depth should be about 20 to 30 centimeters.

Cleaning
Keeping the terrarium clean is very important. The water in the water bath must be changed weekly, as salamanders often use the water as a toilet. Inspect the terrarium daily, remove dirty decorations, clean them, and put them back. The entire terrarium and interior must be cleaned several times a year. If disinfectants are required for cleaning (use only mild variants), rinse everything thoroughly and dry. This prevents the frog's sensitive skin from coming into contact with chemicals.

Handling
Handling salamanders is discouraged due to their thin and sensitive skin, which absorbs substances. Holding the animals is therefore bad for their health. If handling the animals is unavoidable, it is important to first wash your hands thoroughly, without soap, and handle the animal with wet hands. You can also pick them up using vinyl gloves. Given that salamanders are venomous, though not dangerous to humans, it is important that you always wash your hands after handling them.

Housing
Minimum enclosure size for 1 salamander: 60x40x40
Daytime temperature: 15-22 degrees Celsius
Nighttime temperature: 15-22 degrees Celsius
Substrate: gravel, slate, or aquarium sand. Enclosure
Rabbits are good climbers and will attempt to escape; it is important to ensure this is not possible by sealing everything off properly. However, it is important that there is ventilation in the enclosure; without ventilation, the humidity becomes too high.

To ensure the animals can hide, there must be ventilation in both the land and water sections of the enclosure.

Behavior

Hunting method: Active hunters, but they can also wait for prey to emerge from dense vegetation.

Lifestyle: Nocturnal
Character
The ribbed newt is said to be found primarily in the water, but occasionally on land as well. They like to live among many aquatic plants where they can hide. They spend the entire winter underwater or underground, except in mild winters when they do not hibernate.

Points of attention
This species can be housed in groups. It is not recommended to house them with other animal species to prevent injuries. Costs and Purchase

Legislation: -

One-off costs: the costs of the animal and the enclosure.

Fixed costs: food and clean bedding.

Unexpected costs: veterinary costs should the animal become ill.