Posted by danielle genung on April 19, 2006

Q: me and two of my friends found a small salamander on a rock in the woods by my high school and my friend put it in a nestea bottle and some nestea got on it (nestea is a really sweet kind of iced tea). we rinsed the nestea off pretty quick and after about an hour we got to her house (it was still moving then). then we made it a little habitat in a gladware container with rocks, grass, and a little container of water and we covered it with seran wrap with holes in it. then it swam a little and got out of the water and hid under the grass and then we put it outside ina sunnyspot for about ten minutes and when we brought it inside itwould barely move and it wontmove at all now and im really really worried that it might be dead. is it? :(

Habitat: forest/open woods

State: New Jersey

Habitat: forest/open woods

A: From your description, it sounds as though you have a young Spotted Salamander. Although the Nestea probably wasn't very good for it, a quick "swim" in that liquid probably didn't do it much harm. The tea would be a bit acid but not enough to really hurt - I think. But, putting your little guy outside in the sun may have done him in. Salamanders need to remain moist and avoid sunny locations where they'll dry out. Sounds like your animal may have become too dry while in the sun. Keep it moist, it likes moist earth, and see if it won't revive. Feeding a salamander like this is really difficult so if I were you, I'd return your little guy to the woods when it's acting better. Thanks for asking and now you know. You can take a look at vernalpools.enaturalist.org. for some photos and info on the Spotted Salamander and others.

John Wiessinger ( April 19, 2006)