Illness/Sickness: Overfeeding?

[Nikki Dee]

So im pretty new to caring for a salamander, since ive only every cared for lizards, and got my first one less then a month ago. I had bought Jasper at a local pet store that always seems very nice and takes great care of their animals. I was told that since he was still just a larvae that I should feed him as much as he could eat in 15 minutes.every day! I was a little skeptical cause I had read up about them but trusted him and his knowledge.
A couple of days ago I started to notice he was moving very slowly and was sitting at the bottom of the tank all the time and when I had gotten home I noticed like chunks of stuff floating at the surface of the water and that he was like puking food up.
I understand now I shouldnt of fed him so much but could it also be because I was feeding him only crickets? Would just like some advice on how to continue from here.

 

[Kaysie]

What kind of salamander is it? How big? Can you provide a photo?

Crickets aren't the best staple food regardless of species. Earthworms are more nutritionally complete.

 

[Nikki Dee]

What kind of salamander is it? How big? Can you provide a photo?

Crickets aren't the best staple food regardless of species. Earthworms are more nutritionally complete.

Im not really sure what kind he is but Im guessing maybe Barred Tiger. And is around 6 inches so far. I should have probably known crickets werent the best but Ive always had lizards so I figured it would be alright to feed him them.

 

[Nikki Dee]

 

[Kaysie]

Crickets are ok, but earthworms are much better. At that size, it could eat half a night crawler 2-3 times a week.

Also, you'll want to remove that pebble substrate ASAP. It can be deadly to vacuum feeders like ambystomatid larvae.

 

[Nikki Dee]

The pebbles?Ive never really seen him even act like he would swallow them or something. Its usually covered by even larger stones except for the areas where it holds down the plants.

 

[Kaysie]

It will do fine on a bare bottom setup, Much better than if he accidentally (or on purpose) swallows a rock and gets impacted. It can and has killed axolotls, and tigers feed in the same fashion. You'll have to change it in a few weeks when he starts to morph anyway.

 

[Nikki Dee]

Oh yes I was definitly going to get rid of it then and he'll be moved into a different tank. I really wasnt sure when he was going to start his metamorphisis because when i was trying to research it everyone seemed to say it was dependent on when they had decided and the waters condition. I love him as he is now but i cant wait till he changes.

 

[Kaysie]

It should be this fall, but occasionally they will overwinter as larvae.

 

[Nikki Dee]

Oh well I really cant wait. I want it to happen like realllyyyyy soon