Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a red-eared slider turtle, and caught 5 northern two-lined salamanders from the (spring fed) stream in our backyard. I've put the salamanders in Sprocket's (the turtle) tank, and they have lots of places to hide. I put them in there for him to eat though, and I'm not sure if they could injure him by bitting him. Also, if he can't catch them right away...I don't want them to starve to death, so I want to feed them something. From what I've read however, they are mainly insectivorious, so I don't know if they'll maybe eat food he's lost or what else I can feed them if they won't eat that. If anyone knows whether or not they can hurt him, or has any ideas about what I can feed them, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!
Stina

Stina,

They can be a vector for diseases or parasites to your turtle. Also they contain a certain amount of toxin which could be fatal to your turtle (I'm unsure about the species you mention toxicity). Also wild caught animals could have legalities about them in your area, such as protection or collection permits.

On another note, I think this post should have been placed on the turtle forum. This forum here is devoted to the care and breeding of various newts and salamanders, not the use of them as feeders. Most people here are probably a little disgusted at your practices. Just some friendly advice.
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Hope my opinions help,
Rob

I have posted my questions on a turtle forum, but no one seems to know about salamanders. That's why I've posted here. I am aware of the possibility of diseases from wild caught animals, but thank you for mentioning that. I'm sorry if my using the salamanders as feeders disgusts anyone as well...but I can't afford to buy him any live food, and the salamanders are extremely common in our area. I'm not trying to be cruel to them...if I was I wouldn't bother trying to feed them. But I know they are living breathing creatures (and I do find them to be very cute), but I need to feed Sprocket something live, and I chose the salamanders because they are extremely common (can't turn over a large rock without finding one or more), and I'm good at catching them. I can't imagine that there are any laws against catching them, since they are so prevalent here, and I know they are a common species elsewhere as well. I have looked up the poison issue, and haven't been able to find much, except that I know many people use this species as bait for fishing. The only poisonous species I was able to find were newts and one salamander in California. Anyway, if anyone else has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Stina

All newts and salamanders are toxic...just to varying degress.
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Hope my opinions help,
Rob

ok...that could be bad...Does anyone have any idea how toxic the Northern Two-Lined is?

I dont know exactly but individuals vary extremly, I only keep easter red spotted newts because they are native to my area but if say you eat them if not passed back up you will die from it.
I really would take the chance as all salamanders and newts are toxic and toxic for a reason, so most likely would make your turtle very very Ill or even kill it, also the possibility for parasite transmission to your turtle is almost 100% certain as they would be in the newts digestive tracks and such.
All it all just let the poor things go, it'll save them a grusem death and save you turtle to, if you must use wild caught food hmm try fish fry from the stream or river, or earth worms of somethin of that nature.

I ment to say 'I really wouldent take the chance'.

Well I can't release them now that they've been in my turtle's tank because who knows what they've been introduced to that isn't in the stream. I'd be more worried about destroying they're population than them giving Sprocket any parasites or anything (not including toxins in that statement...). I don't have anything else to put them in, let alone anything to feed them (unless they might eat Sprocket's food...), so I don't know what to do with them. If anyone has any ideas for me, I'd appreciate them, I don't want them to suffer or starve to death or anything like that (I know they'd have suffered if Sprocket ate them...but at least then there'd have been a reason for it).

Thanx,
Stina

maybe you could set up a minnow trap, or set up a small aquarium to breed a prolific species of fish like guppies?

Try netting some minnows for your slider if you can't afford live food for him. Better calcium and overall a better choice than the salamanders! Get a hold of a calcium block that's sold for birds to nibble on; your local pet shop should have these. Scrape off the hard backing, break it into some smaller pieces, then toss it in the water maybe once a week for the turtle. Also offer as much of a variety even with the commercial turtle foods. As your slider ages he will appreciate more plant material in his routine feedings too. I have no idea in the wild just how many salamanders a RES would actually be able to get a hold of, but I wouldn't even want to chance it offering any to him either with their toxins.

Ok, so I've taken the salamanders out of Sprocket's tank, and I guess I'm going to try to keep them in a little rubbermaid (about a 10 gallon)...since I have nothing else to put them in. I've never cared for a salamander before, so I need lots of advice. I need to know what they'll eat, what a good (very simple) setup is, if they can go without a filter for awhile (I only have one filter, and am going to get Sprocket a new one, so once I get his new one they can have the old one), if about 72 degrees is alright for them, and anything else anyone can think of. I'd greatly appreciate any advice!

Thanks!
Stina

First word of advice.Lower than 72 degrees = good.

68F and less is ideal for salamanders. I don't know much about your particular species but people on caudata.org's forums would be able to help you out.

Foods can include a variety of things but it depends if they're aquatic or terrestrial. Here is a list: http://www.caudata.org/caudatecentral/articles/foods.html
Forums to ask your questions on

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Hope my opinions help,
Rob

Will they be alright in about 72 degrees?...I really have no way of making it cooler

Keep the container closer to the floor in a cool area of your house.If you have a basement that'd be great.

I can't believe you would even think of doing such a horrible thing!

Why is it such a horrible thing?...are you a vegetarian?...if not then you eat cows and pigs and chickens and sorts of stuff. Why is feeding an omnivorous turtle a salamander a "horrible thing?" I'm not a cruel person...in fact I love animals so much that I'm a preveterinary major in college, I freak out any time I come close to hitting an animal in my car, and I get pissed anytime I see anyone mistreating an animal. I love all animals...but its called the circle of life...living things eat other living things. Do you feed your salamanders insects?...I'm sure there are people that love insects and think that's a horrible thing. I'm sorry if you think feeding my hungry little turtle a live animal is horrible; but I wasn't asking for your opinion on what I do. It's not like I wanted them to die just for the heck of killing them, if I was I wouldn't have asked for anyone's help on what to feed them, or decided to keep them since I can't release them since I don't want my turtle's germs to kill any wild animals needlessly. If I didn't care at all what happened to them I would have flushed them down a toilet or smt. Plus, do you think they don't have any natural predators in the wild??...They'd probably end up eaten anyway, and it's not like I was threatening their population or anything, they're extremely common here. So please don't criticize my attempt to feed my turtle, I was doing nothing but giving him a live, free food alternative to not free fish, snails, or shrimp.

2 lined salamanders are fine to use as feeders. I feed them to my turtles, ring necked snakes, toads, bullfrogs, and hellbender.

Thanks, that's the only really helpful info I've gotten about it! I did put them back, b/c of smt someone said on a different forum, and Sprocket has eaten two of them (well...at least part of two of them...I think the crawdad ended up stealing them from him at some point...lol)