Are salamanders poisonous?

Salamanders usually live in and near puddles, ponds or rice fields in hills and swamps. From October to March of the following year, they hibernate in soil crevices or under rocks near the waters, and from March to September they move in puddles or rice fields with abundant weeds on the hillside. They often feed on earthworms, molluscs, insect larvae and so on. Let's take a look at whether salamanders are poisonous.

Are salamanders poisonous?

Newts are poisonous. The salamander's tiny glands contain a deadly bacterium that can be used to produce a toxin called tetrodotoxin, which is not just similar, but has exactly the same molecular structure. TTX is a ubiquitous toxin, because some organisms at the top of the food chain are enriched and become a "biochemical weapon". Because tetrodotoxin is a typical carrier, it is called tetrodotoxin. When salamanders are attacked, they secrete this deadly neurotoxin immediately.

Is salamander poisonous?

In the late 1970s, it was believed that the toxin in salamanders was tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin, an amino perhydroquinazoline compound, is one of the most toxic neurotoxins found in nature, and was once considered to be the most toxic non-protein toxin in nature. The LD50 of mice injected intraperitoneally is 8 μ g / kg, its toxicity is more than 1250 times higher than cyanide, and 0.5mg can kill people. The toxin has a local stimulating effect on the intestinal tract, and quickly acts on the nerve endings and nerve centers after absorption, which can block the sodium channels on the nerve excitation membrane with high selectivity and affinity, hinder nerve conduction, and cause nerve paralysis and death.

How to raise salamanders?

1. Containers: after catching salamanders, they can be raised in a large glass fish tank to facilitate observation of their activities. The bottom of the cylinder is covered with washed gravel, injected with 30 cm deep pool water or well water, and put in a small amount of algae and other aquatic plants, which are arranged in an ecological environment similar to the capture site. Sand and gravel can absorb dirt, and aquatic plants can carry out photosynthesis, increase the oxygen content in the water, and provide for salamander spawning.

2. Water quality: clean pool water is better for raising salamanders, and well water is also suitable. If tap water is used, it should not be used until 3 to 5 days later, otherwise the residual chlorine in tap water will cause salamander poisoning and death. Changing water is a regular management work. Keeping the water fresh and clean is beneficial to the normal life of salamanders. Change water every 1-2 weeks in winter and every 3-5 days in other seasons.

3. Food: salamanders like to eat live small animals. Water earthworms are ideal fodder, which can be put into a little every other day. Water earthworms can also be wrapped in a single layer of gauze and hung in the water with ropes. Water earthworms will protrude part of the body from the gap in the gauze. Salamanders will swim to pull food. In addition, tadpoles, wigglers and water fleas are also favorite foods for salamanders. When there is a lack of active small animals, frozen shrimp can also be bought in the supermarket, thawed and cut into small pieces for feeding, or lean pork is cut into small pieces for feeding. However, attention should be paid to not taking too much food, and it is appropriate to have no residual food to prevent the food from rotting and affecting the water quality.