The Best Live Foods for Salamanders: Ensuring Dietary Variety

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. Although many salamanders will eagerly gobble-up crickets and mealworms, a diet restricted to these food items usually leads to nutritional disorders and reduced life-spans. This holds true even if supplements are used. A varied diet is essential if you are to have success in keeping salamanders long-term (my 32 year-old Red Salamander, 25 year-old Fire Salamanders and numerous others can attest to this!). Following are some useful tips for those seeking to vary the diets of their terrestrial salamanders. While most newts and aquatic species (Axolotls, Amphiumas) accept dry foods, they too will benefit from invertebrate meals. Please post below for detailed information on individual salamander species. As there is an endless supply of useful live foods for pet salamanders, please also post your ideas and observations. Read the rest of this article here http://bit.ly/1bTxWRb
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Are small dubia roaches (babies) suitable for Salamanders, newts, and other amphibians? I've heard of people using blood worms, daphnia, and water born bug larvae as food as well

Originally Posted by Croghans Reptiles

Are small dubia roaches (babies) suitable for Salamanders, newts, and other amphibians? I've heard of people using blood worms, daphnia, and water born bug larvae as food as well

Hi,

Roaches are ideal for frogs and those salamanders large enough to handle them, esp. tigers, spotted salamanders, etc. The others you mention are also very good...daphnia esp useful when you are rearing larvae, assuming you have a large supply. Best regards, Frank