What Do Salamanders Eat
There are many types of salamanders, and each will have his own pallet depending on where he lives. This begs the question, what do salamanders eat? There are special processed foods for captive salamanders, but most of the tiger species who live on land prefer the one and only cricket as their main food source. This makes sense, as crickets often seek shelter from the heat and light of day in the very same territory that the salamander uses for moisture and protection at home. Though they aren’t very quick on their slimy, short little legs, most salamanders will lay in wait for prey to walk by too close to their heads, and then attack in the blink of an eye. This direct relative of the frog has evolved quite well, and has many tricks up his sleeve for survival through drought and famine.
What do salamanders eat when there are no crickets around? Well, this list is a long one, for if he wants to survive he can’t afford to be too picky. Mealworms and small grubs can easily crawl their way onto the menu, as can roly-poly pill bugs. Some small species of beetles are also a likely target for our amphibious little friends, and they may even partake of an unlucky earthworm should the opportunity present. There are other small insects that will suffice for the salamander if these choices turn up dry, and small millipedes can easily find their way into his stomach if they aren’t careful of where they wander. Night flying insects such as small moths are actually one of the salamander’s favorite foods.
What do salamanders eat if they are indigenes to the water? Well, they enjoy a great many non-predatory crustaceans and larvae, but you must be careful about introducing foreign live feed from ponds into your captive salamander’s tank if you don’t know what they are. Invertebrates are usual the safest bet if you are hunting food yourself, but never introduce such larvae as young dragonflies, who can kill and eat your precious salamander larvae. It is best to order your live feed from an aquarium specialist to avoid tragic mistakes.
What do salamanders eat when they are captive? Well, that is completely up to you, and the most common purchased feeds for land dwellers are crickets and mealworms. You must understand that these easy solutions will not cover all of your salamander’s nutritional needs, so hunting on your own for some of his wild favorites is never a bad idea. Grab a couple of roly-poly’s from under a stone outside, or capture some small moths from around the porch light by night. Feeding should be offered once each day, and having two or three for him to choose from is a good game plan.