Compost critters as food

[anthony]

I have two newts -- a smallish southern crested and a very large paddletail. They currently eat a mixed diet of nightcrawlers, waxworms, and live blackworms. Our garden compost bin, however, is crawling with other bugs that might be good supplements.

I'm guessing that earwigs are a very bad idea, and that centipedes are probably not so great either, but does anyone have advice on using sowbugs and maggots?

 

[jennifer]

I think most grubs or maggots are probably OK. Woodlice (a.k.a. pill bugs) are good. Are those the same thing as sow bugs? For the most part, worms are probably the safest and easiest.

 

[anthony]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, sowbugs and pillbugs/woodlice are the same thing.

 

[josh]

Sow bugs are relatively easy to culture just need to offer some scraps once in a while to keep them alive. The newborn are great for young newts and salamanders.