Reptile & Amphibian Forums

anyone had any luck feeding a salamander to a baby eastern? I finally got one to take a small feeder lizard but the company sent nineteen out of twenty lizards way too big and they were gekos-- not small anoles as I requested. I have eight more to feed and no more small lizards!! I know where tons of little salamanders are though.

I don't know from first hand experience, but I would give it a try. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they ate salamanders. If they like them, you could start scenting pinks with them and convert them to mice pretty easily.

Good luck.

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Updated 9/9/08

Small worm snakes work. As they say in fishing " match the hatch"
meaning feed them what they eat in the wild
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Doug L

I have tried offering hatchlings red-backed salamanders and other small species, though unsuccessfully. The hatchling I kept would only eat worms after they had dried out. The snake I fed was practically scared of the salamanders - I don't think they like anything slimy.

One thing about feeding 'phibs to snakes - some species of salamanders are toxic, including baby spotteds (although most are too large anyway). Also, cold-blooded prey are much less nutritious than rodents - if your snake accepts them, you will have to feed it much more often.

You may want to try brumating your snake. My baby eastern would not eat anything until after hibernation. Easterns can survive much lower hibernating temps than you think. I began brumating mine in mid-November.

Best of luck,
Pinstripe

Thanks for the info. All of the remaining babies tried to eat the F/T gekos but the gekos were too big. MY brother is going to send me some snall ones along with little anoles. ( Florida ) I might try the salamanders in the meantime just to get a meal into them. Looks like they all are going to eat though.

Joe,

In my experience, Anois spp. are generally ignored by milks outside of their natural range. Geckos and skinks are the way to go - be happy you ended up with geckos.

As for the size, big is FINE! Freeze the critters and break them into pieces. The legs and tail snap off easily. That leaves you with the main trunk of the lizard which can be sectioned and used for scenting later. Keep the geckos!

-Cole

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After they attempted to eat the larger lizards F/T, I did try cutting pieced off and offering the trunk. They seemed interested but did not eat them after leaving them overnight. I guess they want the things alive or whole? I will be getting some more live lizards soon and will try them. Tried scenting pinks too--interest but no takers! Thanks for the information. I am sure I will need more help!

Offer the lizard legs and tails. The body is probably too large. Use the trunk for scenting down the road.

-Cole

n/p
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

got that message a little late. I put tails in with some and the bodies in with larger ones. I now have five of the nine which have eaten. Two of them ate the whole bodies and the rest ate tails. Looking good! Thanks again.