Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got about a dozen mixed species of small sallies from the rivers in North GA (neighbor brought them back and gave them to me rather than using them to fish in our lake). I would say red backs and lined. He said he caught a massive hellbender the day before he came too.. anyway though back to the point, I was wondering what u all reccomend doing with them? If some - more experienced- people here want 1 or 2 or 3 let me know, u guys cover shipping and take them off my hands, I dont like keeping fruit flies in stock.. or should I let them go in my lake and keep a few and hope for the best? Thanks

Matthew
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Hi Matt, if you really want to give someaway check on caudata.org.

In general sort them by size and type. Larger ones will eat small ones. Most of the bait salamanders collected down there usually are stream dwellers (spring lizards) and probably will not do well in your pond.
Keep them cool (below 70 F is possible.

Ed

how about you ask your neighbor the location of the stream and put them back? good luck

I second that. A lot of people don't realize that salamanders are probably one
of the most difficult animals to take care of. I used to think my dart frogs were
high maintanance, but not at all compared to salamanders. For one, they all
aren't the same in maintanance. Depending on where they come from, they eat
differently, and need different tempuratures maintained. The one's you mentioned are probably small right? Maybe two to three inches? If you don't have access to pinhead crickets, and small worms, and you can't keep them below 70 degrees fahrenheit, then I would take them back because eventually they'll probably die. Most people who keep these little guys are fanatical about
them to the point that they read every bit of info they can in order to keep them alive.
If you take them back, you'll be doing a favor to the environment, as in some areas these little guys are becoming extinct or scarce, (especially the hellbender) and they play a very important role in the ecosystem. Not trying to be a downer, just trying to provide you with some info that might be helpful to you.