Has anyone kept salamanders as pets?

Look at this one, t he colors are so nice!


is It possible to keep them as pets?

Looks like some people do - 

http://www.tetra-fish.com/Fauna/reptile-information-center/salamanders-newts-as-pets-faq.aspx

I wouldn't take a wild one though. Maybe look for local groups dealing with pet reptiles and amphibians?

Yes, never just take a wild one and put it in a tank. There is a LOT to know about their care, and taking a wild one from its habitat would surely spell trouble. They are in the pet trade, but they're not as common as other "exotics".

Salamanders are beautiful. I've never kept any as pets, but I did see some in display at the Canadian Pet Expo. They need quite a bit of environmental control to keep them happy and healthy, and with salamanders in particular moisture and temperature go a long way (they take water in through their pores). How moist or how much water is available would depend on where the salamander species originates, so there's quite a bit of homework to be done before bringing one home and getting a tank set up.

They're not as hands-on as, say, reptiles that you would house in a mostly dry tank that have hard protective scales though, so they certainly aren't good cuddle bugs, which is for their own protection since their skin isn't suitable for constant handling. I think they would make good hands-off pets for people who have a genuine interest in maintaining their vivarium and watching them thrive -- and are okay with feeding them worms! I've only fed worms to reptiles, but those squirmy little meal, wax, and silk worms - blech! I would rather not have to handle them.

If you really are interested, make sure you find yourself a specialized exotics vet. A cat/dog vet won't know a thing about exotic animals like salamanders. Usually vets that specialize in reptiles, small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, etc.), and avians will have more knowledge about salamanders.

I did actually take wild tiger salamanders as pets when I was a teenager :anon:. They lived something like 10-12 years under my care. I fed them canned crickets and bait worms in the winter, and caught wild crickets and worms in the summer---they were quite enthusiastic eaters and would eat anything from my fingers. I kept them in a 10 gallon fish tank with damp potting soil and moss. I would recommend getting a captive-bred one if possible but I think a lot in the pet trade are wild-caught anyway :/. So it wouldn't make much difference if you catch one or the pet trade seller catches it for you. But make sure it's legal in your area first.

Ewwwwwww!!!!!

I'm country folk; as teenagers, my cousin and caught some at the creek with the intention of keeping them.  My younger cousin thought he was doing us a favor by dumping the creek water from our container and filling it with fresh water.  Sadly, they all died.  My young cousin was very apologetic, almost in tears.  I didn't get mad at him, in fact, I comforted him; he was only trying to help.  In retrospect, I wish we would have left them where they were, in the creek in their natural habitat.   

I would definitely go with a salamander purchased from a reputable source.  Someone who can provide you with instructions on care and answer your questions.