Can Salamanders Live Underwater?

Some salamanders are born in the water and never leave it. Others live on land but return to water to breed. It all depends on the species.

Yes, many salamanders can live underwater, and some spend their whole lives there. Aquatic salamanders are fully adapted to underwater life. They breathe through gills or absorb oxygen through their skin.

But not all salamanders are like that. Some only stay underwater while they’re young or during certain seasons.

What Kinds of Salamanders Stay Underwater?

There are a few groups of salamanders that are almost always found in the water. These are called aquatic salamanders. Some don’t even grow lungs or legs. They’re built for swimming, not walking.

Here are a few examples:

• Axolotls: These are perhaps the most famous fully aquatic salamanders. They keep their feathery gills and stay in the water for life.
• Olm: A cave-dwelling species that lives underwater its entire life. It’s blind and pale, with small limbs and external gills.
• Siren: These long, eel-like salamanders have no back legs and live in swamps or ponds. They breathe through gills.
• Mudpuppy (or waterdog): This species also keeps its gills and stays underwater, often hiding under rocks or logs.

These salamanders never go through the typical transformation from water to land. They’re fully aquatic, from egg to adult.

What About Salamanders That Start Underwater?

Most salamanders hatch from eggs laid in water. They start out as tiny aquatic larvae, kind of like tadpoles. At this stage, they have gills and swim around looking for food.

After a few weeks or months, many species go through metamorphosis. They lose their gills, grow lungs, and move onto land.

These are called semi-aquatic or terrestrial salamanders.

They live in damp places, like under logs or in the leaf litter, but they don’t stay underwater once they grow up.

Still, they often return to water to breed, lay eggs, or cool off when it’s hot and dry.

How Do Aquatic Salamanders Breathe?

Different species breathe in different ways.

• External gills: These look like feathery branches on the sides of the head. Axolotls, sirens, and mudpuppies use these to pull oxygen out of the water.
• Skin breathing: Some salamanders don’t have gills or lungs. They absorb oxygen straight through their skin. This only works if the water is clean and full of oxygen.
• Lungs: A few aquatic salamanders have lungs but mostly use their skin or gills.

The way they breathe often matches where they live. Cold, clean, flowing water holds more oxygen, which helps salamanders that rely on skin breathing.

Stagnant or warmer water might be better for those with gills or lungs.

Can Pet Salamanders Live Underwater?

It depends on the species.

If you have an axolotl, mudpuppy, or siren, then yes, they can and should live underwater full-time. These salamanders need tanks with water deep enough to swim, good filtration, and the right temperature.

But if you have a terrestrial or semi-aquatic species, like a tiger salamander or fire salamander, they can’t live underwater. They might drown if they can’t get out easily.

Some pet salamanders enjoy shallow water areas in their tank, but they still need plenty of land to crawl on and hide under.

Never assume a salamander can live underwater just because it likes damp places. Always check the needs of your specific species.

How Long Can Land Salamanders Stay in Water?

Even land-dwelling salamanders can enter water for short periods. They often return to ponds or streams to breed, and they may soak in water to stay moist during hot weather.

But they can’t breathe underwater the way aquatic species can. If they’re stuck in water too long, they’ll drown.

That’s why many amphibian tanks for pet salamanders include both land and water sections. These setups let them choose where they want to be.

Why Some Stay in Water for Life

Some salamanders never lose their gills or leave the water. This is called neoteny, when an animal stays in its juvenile form but still becomes an adult in other ways.

Neoteny happens in species like axolotls and mudpuppies. In the wild, it can be linked to stable, cold water environments where it’s safer to stay put. If the conditions are just right, there’s no need to go through metamorphosis.

In some species, like the tiger salamander, neoteny might happen sometimes but not always. It depends on the environment.

What Happens If You Put a Terrestrial Salamander in Water?

If a salamander isn’t made for living underwater, putting it in deep water can be dangerous.

It might swim for a bit, but it will quickly get tired or stressed. It may struggle to breathe, and if it can’t climb out, it could drown.

That’s why proper tank setups are so important. Knowing whether your salamander is aquatic or terrestrial helps you keep it safe and healthy.

If you’re not sure what kind you have, look for these clues:

• External gills = fully aquatic
• Smooth skin, short limbs, and no gills = might be aquatic or semi-aquatic
• Dry skin, strong legs, no gills = probably terrestrial

Do Salamanders Ever Leave the Water?

Aquatic species don’t, but semi-aquatic and terrestrial salamanders do.

After metamorphosis, most salamanders head for land and only return to water to mate or lay eggs. Some, like the newt, split their time between both worlds.

A few can absorb oxygen through their skin in wet conditions, so they’ll stay near streams, springs, or mossy forest floors. But they don’t go back to swimming full-time once they’ve made the shift.

Conclusion

Salamanders are a pretty mixed group when it comes to where they live. Some stay underwater forever. Others just start there and move onto land. And a few switch back and forth depending on the season.

Yes, salamanders can live underwater, especially species like axolotls, mudpuppies, sirens, and olms.

But not all salamanders are aquatic. Some will drown if they can’t get out of the water. So whether you’re keeping one as a pet or just curious about what you found in a stream, the key is knowing the species. Once you do, it’s easy to figure out where they belong.

Some belong under logs. Some belong in streams. And a few? They never leave the water at all.