How difficult is it to keep Japanese Black Salamander?

Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.

What is the lifespan of Japanese Black Salamander?

The average lifespan of Japanese Black Salamander is 8-12 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Japanese Black Salamander get?

Japanese Black Salamander typically reaches 13-16cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Japanese Black Salamander?

Japanese Black Salamander feeds on: Insects, arthropods and earthworms. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Japanese Black Salamander?

The price of Japanese Black Salamander varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Black Salamander

Intermediate

Hynobius nigrescens

A salamander endemic to the mountains of northern and central Japan. It reaches 13-16 cm, is dark brown, and has eleven costal grooves on each flank. It is known for laying white egg sacs shaped like akebi fruit.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Temperature

25〜32℃

Lifespan

8-12 years

Size

13-16cm

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

Insects, arthropods and earthworms

About

Hynobius nigrescens is a hynobiid salamander endemic to Japan, occurring in the mountains from Tohoku through Hokuriku and central Honshu, including Sado Island. It reaches 13-16 cm and is dark brown; the specific name nigrescens means blackish. Eleven costal grooves run along each flank, and the tail is long and laterally compressed. It is a still-water breeder, and its larvae have three pairs of external gills plus balancers below the eyes, organs of unknown function that disappear once the forelimbs develop. It is nocturnal, sheltering under stones and leaf litter by day. From February to July it lays a pair of egg sacs in ponds, puddles and marshes; wrapped in a clear layer and a white layer, they resemble akebi fruit and hold 20-80 eggs each, hatching in four to five weeks. Habitat and spawning-site loss, together with predation by introduced raccoons and red swamp crayfish, have reduced numbers, and Japan's Ministry of the Environment Red List treats it as Near Threatened.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Japanese Black Salamander

The Japanese Black Salamander lives 8-12 years.

Size of the Japanese Black Salamander

The Japanese Black Salamander grows to 13-16cm.

Basic Info

Origin

Endemic to Japan (Tohoku, Kanto uplands, Hokuriku and central Honshu, including Sado Island)

Lifespan

8-12 years

Size

13-16cm

Care Specifications

PeacefulSolitaryBreeding: Hard

Sources: Caudata Culture: Hynobius nigrescens / Wikipedia (Japanese) / Wikipedia (English)

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Hynobius nigrescens Stejneger, 1907

Synonyms: Hynobius fuscus Tago, 1907, Hynobius sadoensis Sato, 1940

Authority databases: GBIF · Amphibian Species of the World

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

Not CITES-listedIUCN LC · Least Concern

This species does not appear in the Ministry of the Environment's list of nationally rare species of wild fauna and flora (updated February of Reiwa 7 / 2025), and as of the time of writing (September 2026) it is not designated as a Class II nationally rare species either. However, in January of Reiwa 4 (2022) many members of the family Hynobiidae, including Hynobius abuensis and Hynobius akiensis, were added to Class II, and the scope of designation is widening. Once a species is designated Class II, transfer for the purpose of sale is prohibited, so check the latest designation status before handling it. The Ministry of the Environment Red List classifies it as Near Threatened (NT).

Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List / Ministry of the Environment, Japan: List of National Endangered Species

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.