small insect collecting?

[FredLikesNewts]

well ive been thinking about getting a two lined (eurcyea bislineata) or some other species along the lines of that, aquatic/semi aquatic, and i was wondering how i would collect food for it?
i have access to aquatic insect larvae but id like to know some other methods of collecting other food sources, such as spring tails ive heard about, and there are no pet stores with black worms near me so thats not an option. but how and waht would you collect other stuff?

 

[taherman]

You should be able to raise your own food for a two-lined salamander. Check into culturing springtails, flightless fruit flies (Drosophila), pinhead crickets, and bean weevil/beetles. You could then supplement with small foods you collect if you so desire.

 

[FredLikesNewts]

ok i was going to look into culturing i guess i really meant to ask where i can get starter cultures but ill look around for the answer. thanks.

 

[Jennewt]

Some pet shops sell flightless fruit flies. Barring that, you'll have to look for places online (there are plenty). It may also be worth asking local pet shops if they can special-order pinheads for you.

 

[caleb]

If you really are interested in collecting as well as culturing, you can try:

-sweeping long grass with a butterfly net (or something similar)
-beating or shaking vegetation (tree branches, bushes) over a large container
-sieving leaf litter

I've used all of these in the past. I still sieve leaf litter on occasion- it can produce quite large numbers of tiny invertebrates, especially springtails.

 

[Slimy2]

I've raised my E. cirrigera on chopped or small earthworms and termites in case this helps any. Break open a rotten log lying on the ground and you can end up with hundreds of little bite size termite snacks for these guys and they love them.