Tiger finally ate a WORM!!!

[leanne]

I didn't even have to go for a whole week without feeding him, he must have been just hungry enough to eat something (finally) other than a cricket. My question: I have read somewhere that to keep worms for more than a day might result in bacterial growth in the worm and thus harm the salamander when he eats it----I can dig my own fresh worms for now, but winter is coming, so I will have to purchase them from a bait shop soon. How does everyone else store their worms without risk of bacteria/mold/etc.? Or is this really even a concern I should worry about? Also, do your sallies refuse food after a couple helpings of a cricket or 2 or a worm or 2? I used to have a salamander who would eat anything you put in front of him, but the guy I have now stops after either 2 or 3 crickets or, as in yesterday's case, a worm and a cricket.

 

[nate]

Hmmm...never heard that Leanne. Clearly, if the worm is dead and growing mold, you shouldn't feed it. But live worms do not grow bacteria after a day. I store my nightcrawlers in the refridgerator, just like a baitshop does. They can be kept several weeks this way.

It's not unusual for salamanders to suddenly get "shy" after the first couple bites of food and decide to stop eating. It depends on the individual salamander's "personality" and also on how tame/conditioned they are.

 

[leanne]

Nate, thanks for writing, I will store the worms in the fridge, then--cool.