What conditions are needed for breeding giant salamanders?

Whether artificial breeding of giant salamanders succeeds depends crucially on the breeding environment.

1. The breeding water temperature must be suitable. According to many years of observation, the water temperature most suitable for giant salamander growth is 16-22°C. In low mountain areas, summer temperatures are relatively high; if the water temperature exceeds 26°C, giant salamander growth will be affected, and sometimes a “summer dormancy” phenomenon occurs. Excessive temperature can also cause giant salamander death; but if the altitude is too high and the ambient temperature and water temperature are too low, the effective growth time of giant salamanders is short and their growth rate is slow, making breeding unprofitable as well. Therefore, when breeding giant salamanders, the site is best chosen in areas at an altitude of 500-800 m with no severe cold in winter and no extreme heat in summer.

2. The breeding water quality must be good. Giant salamanders like cleanliness and fear dirt, and have very strict requirements for the water quality of their environment. Wild giant salamanders generally inhabit streams and rivers in deep mountain gorges with good natural vegetation, no environmental pollution, and few human visitors. For artificial breeding of giant salamanders in mountainous areas, the water source is best chosen as small streams and ditches with year-round flowing water, or spring water; the bottom water of large and medium-sized reservoirs with fresh water quality can also be used. In short, the water quality must be fresh, lively, pollution-free, with high dissolved oxygen, and a neutral pH value. Water flowing out of mountain farmland and mines, as well as urban tap water, may have some chemical substances exceeding standards and cannot be used as breeding water for giant salamanders.

3. The breeding environment must be quiet. Giant salamanders have the habits of liking quiet and fearing disturbance, and liking shade and fearing wind, so a quiet environment is very important for raising giant salamanders well. When building a giant salamander breeding farm in mountainous areas, it is best to choose a place surrounded by mountains, with lush trees, few people, and a relatively independent, quiet, and shady environment, and provide appropriate cover. Some farmers use natural rock caves, or artificially dig tunnels in places with water sources for breeding, which can maintain constant temperature, avoid light, and stay quiet, while also preventing escape and theft, and the breeding results are very good.

To meet the above conditions, it is best to choose a suitable environment in the original habitat of giant salamanders to build the farm. In addition, mountain areas are prone to sudden floods in summer, so when selecting a site for the farm, work to prevent washout and escape should also be done well.