Salamander died

[reid]

My spotted salamander passed away today, it probably died from stress or starvation. It was very skinny and did not eat. I will miss him.

 

[kara]

why would your salamander have been stressed? what were you feeding it?

 

[alberto]

Hello Reid
I am truly sorry about your lost. Could you give a little more information about why you think that your Spotted Salamander die. That information could help others with their salamanders.
Once again I am truly sorry about you lost!

 

[reid]

there are two possible reasons for its death.
1. Ants, they were always biting
2. the heat, tryed to cool it off but it was just to hot.

I was feeding it crickets and wood lice, could not find any earthworms and bait shops dont sell them here.

 

[kara]

ants were in your setup?? yikes, how were they getting in? what was your lid like?

for the future, if you plan on getting another salamander, flood a patch of grass with your hose to obtain worms...or just wait for a good rain...
Or, if you have a blowtorch, stick about 2 feet of a steel rod in the earth and heat it with a blow torch really really well...(If you are underage, HAVE A PARENT DO THIS!!)
It is my tested and true method of obtaining free fishing bait, and now, food for my sallies. I get about 150 worms everytime. Stick the in a garage fridge in some loose moist soil.
Good luck, and I am sorry about your loss.

 

[reid]

Thanks,
I cant get worms if I use that method because the soil is just too dry, there arent any worms in there. I could try and get some from my friends house, but he doesnt like me damaging his yard too often. The ants were in there because the lid is not ant proof. The lid I use is a plastic container lid.

 

[kara]

If the ants are a bad problem, try laing out ant bait or poison around the outside perimeter of your tank...I had an ant problem this summer, and the bait worked very well...it was non toxic, as I have a two year old running around the house...you could try stretching pantyhose around the tank for a good lid...ant proof, and allows ventilation

 

[reid]

My tank is a little big for pantyhose, 68cmx38cm(?). Same goes for me, I have a cat running around the house so it is important that the trap is non toxic. I'll go by some mybe by next week.
Thanks again.

 

[edward]

You can always put an ant barrier around the tank. If you don't mind the mess vasoline works well or you can track down a paintable teflon product called bug barrier.

Ed

 

[reid]

How about surrounding the set up with water?

 

[jennifer]

I was thinking of that... a moat. I've used that to protect food in my (former) ant-ridden kitchen. Seems like a line of Vaseline around the bottom of the tank would be less hassle and less ugly though.

Sorry about your sal.

 

[jennifer]

Reid, I have another explanation (or contributing factor) for your salamander's death. Over on another forum, you mentioned keeping it in sphagnum moss.
http://creepycrawlies.proboards37.com/index.cgi?board=housingandhabitat&action=display&thread=1154148124
Sphagnum can be too acidic and should not be used for salamanders (unless it is first soaked for a long time, or tested to make sure it isn't acidic).

Sorry about reviving this thread, but I thought you should know, in case you get another terrestrial sal someday.

 

[reid]

I'm glad that you brought that back up, I wouldnt have a clue about that if you didnt. Is there anything else besides soil I can use for the substrate?

 

[Jan]

Coco-fiber (expandable bricks), organic topsoil (free of chemicals) or a mixture of both. Keep substrate moist but not soggy, and change about once a month.