Ambystoma maculatum feeding... what and with what sort of freqency?

[kate]

I have just acquired a delightful spotted salamander. He seems to eat crickets pretty happily, but I'd like to give him a varied diet.

Also, I can't seem to find how often to feed him, and how much at a time.

Finally, he has three plethodon tankmates (I know, the size difference worried me, too.. but there seems to be no salamander-salamander predation going on)... I'm feeding them blackworms from a petri dish full of water, but I'd really rather not deal with aquatic worms. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[joan]

There may not be any predation now, but would definately seperate them immediately. Read http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml for good reasons why!

On the food topic, feed earthworms, waxworms, crickets, butterworms, various insects. Anything that is free of pesticides and fertilizers make a good food. I use earthworms as a staple. Earthworms you dig out of the ground are acceptable, as long as they contain no pesticides.

 

[jennifer]

I agree completely with Joan. I'd also add that, for starters, try mixing some chopped earthworms in with the live blackworms. I have trained some other sals to eat chopped worms from a dish this way. Be careful about blackworms climbing out of the food dish... they can die and foul the dirt quickly.

In addition to possible predation, the Plethodontids will need much smaller food. A separate tank would be helpful in this regard too.