The red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani) is a small amphibian found in mountain ranges throughout the southeastern United States. It is known for its unique markings, which range from slate gray to bluish-black on its dorsal area, and can have distinct red cheeks in certain regions. Let’s take a deeper look into the red-cheeked salamander and explore its characteristics and behavior.
When it comes to caring for a red cheeked salamander, it’s important to provide them with a suitable habitat and diet, as outlined in this helpful guide on how to care for a larch mountain salamander.
How to Care for a Red-cheeked Salamander?
Red-cheeked salamanders are notoriously easy to care for. They require a humid environment and access to both land and water in their enclosure. The salamander’s habitat should be between 65-76°F with a humidity level of 70%. A simple terrarium, either store-bought or made at home, will do the trick. You can place bark chips or moss in the terrarium, as well as a shallow water dish for your salamander to soak in.
When it comes to caring for a red cheeked salamander, it’s important to do your research and follow proper guidelines, such as those outlined in this helpful guide on how to care for a wintu shasta salamander.
Description
The red-cheeked salamander has many different color patterns and varying degrees of pigmentation. Its dorsal color usually ranges from slate gray to bluish-black, but there are distinct variations depending on its location. For example, those that live in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee often have vivid red cheeks, while those found in the Nantahala and Tusquitee Mountains and Cheoah Mountain in North Carolina tend to have red legs instead.
In addition to its unique coloration, the red-cheeked salamander has several physical characteristics that help set it apart from other species of salamanders. They typically measure between 12.5 cm (4 ¾ inches) long from snout to tail tip, with 16 costal grooves running down their sides—one more than most other species of Plethodontid salamanders.
If you’re interested in learning how to care for a red cheeked salamander, you may find some helpful tips in this article about how to care for a greenhorn mountain slender salamander.
Behavior & Habitat
Red-cheeked salamanders are found throughout mountain ranges in the southeast United States, ranging as far north as Kentucky and Virginia all the way south to Alabama and Georgia. These animals prefer cool conditions under logs or rocks where they spend most of their time hiding away from predators such as snakes or birds of prey who might feed on them if given the opportunity.
They primarily feed on insects such as ants, beetles, flies, spiders, millipedes, and earthworms but will also eat slugs or snails when available. As with most amphibians, they lay eggs that hatch into larvae that eventually turn into adults over a period of months or years depending upon environmental conditions such as temperature or rainfall amounts.
The Reproduction and Egg-Laying Process of the Red-Cheeked Salamander
Have you ever seen a red-cheeked salamander in your terrarium? If you have, then you know how beautiful these creatures can be. But did you know that the reproduction process for red-cheeked salamanders is quite interesting and complex? Let’s take a closer look at how these creatures reproduce and lay their eggs.
The Reproduction Process
The red-cheeked salamander reproduces through internal fertilization, which means that the female will lay eggs after being fertilized by a male. Before this can happen though, the two must first find each other. The males secrete pheromones to attract females and when a female is interested, she will follow him to his chosen location for mating.
The males often choose locations with plenty of water or dampness, such as near a stream or pond. Once they reach their destination, the male will initiate courtship behaviors such as head bobbing and tail wagging. After this courtship display has been completed, they will mate and the male will deposit sperm onto her eggs as she lays them.
Egg Laying
After mating has taken place, the female will begin to lay her eggs one by one in shallow pools of water or on the damp ground near streams or ponds. Each egg is about 1/4 inch in diameter and is coated with a jellylike substance to help protect it from drying out or being damaged by predators. Once all of her eggs have been laid (usually between 10-20), she leaves them and does not provide any parental care afterward.
Hatching
The eggs usually hatch within 2 weeks but may take longer depending on environmental factors such as temperature and humidity levels. When they hatch, they are small replicas of their adult forms but without any coloration yet (they get their bright colors later on). They feed mostly on small aquatic insects at this stage before eventually moving onto land when they reach adulthood.
The Lifespan of the Red-Cheeked Salamander
Studies have shown that the mean generation time for the Red-Cheeked Salamander is 9.8 years, with 77% surviving to 10 years old or longer. This means that these creatures can live well beyond a decade, sometimes reaching 15 years or more! This is significantly longer than many other species of salamanders, which usually only live for 4 to 8 years. In addition to their impressive longevity, these salamanders have also been found to thrive in colder temperatures and higher altitudes than other amphibians.
What Makes the Red-Cheeked Salamander So Long-Lived?
The lifespan of an animal depends on numerous factors, including its environment and its physiology. Studies show that one major factor contributing to the longevity of P. jordani may be its ability to regulate its metabolism based on temperature and food availability.
Additionally, studies have found that P. jordani has a slower rate of growth compared to other amphibians—meaning they don’t burn through energy as quickly—which helps them survive longer as well.
What Does the Red-Cheeked Salamander Need to Eat?
In the wild, red-cheeked salamanders eat a variety of insects including spiders, moths, beetles, earthworms, and more. They also consume occasional bits of plant matter from time to time when it is available. To replicate its natural diet as closely as possible in captivity, your red-cheeked salamander should be offered a wide variety of protein sources such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms, roaches, and even small pinky mice on occasion. You can feed your pet live insects or freeze-dried/freeze-dried varieties; however, live food will provide more nutrition for your pet. Aim for about 12-15 feedings per week that consist of 6 – 10 individual insects each time.
How Should I Feed My Red Cheek Salamander?
When feeding your salamander it is important to ensure that all the food items are smaller than their heads so they can easily swallow their prey whole without any risk of choking. It is also important to never overfeed your pet—a good rule of thumb is that they should only consume food that is roughly the size of their head (or slightly smaller).
Feeding too much at once could result in indigestion or other health issues for your pet! When offering live food items, always make sure they are safe for consumption by dusting them lightly with calcium powder prior to offering them up as a meal for your pet. Finally, use tweezers or tongs when handling any live food items so you don’t accidentally get bitten by any hungry bugs!
Creating the Perfect Environment for Red-Cheeked Salamanders
It’s one of the most popular pet salamanders, with its bright red cheeks and long lifespan (up to 20 years with proper care!). But to ensure this beautiful creature has a healthy, happy life, your terrarium environment needs to be just right. Here’s what you need to know about setting up an ideal habitat for your Red-Cheeked Salamander.
Substrate
The substrate—the material at the bottom of your terrarium—is an important part of creating the ideal home for your salamander. You’ll want something that can absorb water and stay moist. Sphagnum moss, coconut fiber, or mulch all work well and are easy to find in pet stores. Make sure you remove any sharp pieces of debris from the substrate before putting them in the terrarium.
Temperature and Humidity
Red-cheeked salamanders like cool temperatures between 60°F and 70°F (15°C – 21°C). You can use an under-tank heater or light bulb hood to help keep this range steady throughout the day. To maintain humidity levels, misting your terrarium with a spray bottle every few days is usually enough. If necessary, you can also buy a hygrometer to measure humidity levels accurately.
Lighting
Salamanders don’t need traditional lighting because they’re nocturnal animals that spend most of their time hiding during the day. However, some UVB lighting can help promote healthy growth and development if you plan on breeding them in captivity—just make sure you get bulbs specifically designed for reptiles/amphibians. A good rule of thumb is 10-14 hours of light each day followed by 10-14 hours of darkness each night. This ensures that your salamander gets enough sleep but still has plenty of time to explore its environment during daylight hours!
Conclusion
Red cheek salamanders are fascinating creatures that make great pets — plus they require minimal care! As long as you are offering them a varied diet filled with plenty of protein sources such as insects and worms (and maybe an occasional mouse!), they will stay healthy and happy in their terrariums or aquariums. So if you’ve recently welcomed a new red cheek salamander into your home — congratulations! With just a few simple steps you’ll have everything needed to properly feed and care for this wonderful animal companion!