Ambystoma macrodactylum

[robinsonmatt43]

hello,

I am looking for anyone who has had experience keeping live long-toed salamanders in captivity. I have several individuals housed in a large vivarium indoors and I am planning on keeping them overwinter for a small observational study. I have both larvae (late stages of development) and very small metamorphs ( about 4.5 cm total length). I have a few questions concerning tank mantainence and feeding of both larvae and metamorphs. Anyone who has had similar experinces and would like to correspond with me would be most welcome.

Thank you, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Matt

 

[Coastal Groovin]

Treat them just like you would A. maculatum. Feed the morphs white worms, isopods, and chopped garden worms. You could also try feeding them small clumps of black worms on wet paper towls. The larvae will do fine on a diet of black worms and Daphnia.

 

[robinsonmatt43]

Thanks Bill,

Those are good tips; since I posted the blog we've had good success feeding both the metamophs and larvae. The metamprhs have been feeding on small mealworms, crickets, and any other small insects I found inside the house. The larvae however, were a bit more of a challenge to find food for, seeing as how it's winter up here, and everything is covered with an ice layer at least a foot thick. I was however, able to cut a hole in the ice of a nearby pond and extract some fresh water full of chaoborous midges. A few days after adding midges to the tank water, I pulled out a larva and observed a considerable increase in girth. I think it's safe to say they're gorging themselves.

Thank you for your suggestions and I'll keep you posted.

Matt