The fire salamander can be easily recognized by the presence of bright yellow dots adorning its black rubber-like skin. These amphibians occur in damp woodland areas. This is essentially a nocturnal species that prefers to burrow in soft soils. In captivity, they should be kept at temperatures ranging from 60-65 F and at 90% humidity. They should be kept in a terrarium provided with reptile bark, moss or prepared soil as substrate, to mimic their natural environment. Always provide a shallow water dish that could be used for bathing as well as drinking. Their diet consists of worms, snails, crickets and other insects. The fire salamander can reach a maximum length of about a foot. When threatened, their skin secretes a fluid, which may trigger an allergic reaction in some people.