Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone here know anything about feeding salamanders to turtles? I have a red-eared slider hatchling, and I put 5 northern two-lined salamanders that I caught in the (spring fed) stream in our back yard (please don't respond about the risks of introducing wild caught animals...I know them already). I would like to know if anyone has done this before. Also, I've been told that they can be toxic, but I don't know about the northern two-lined, except that people use them as fish bait a lot. Also, I would like to feed them if Sprocket (my RES) can't catch them so they don't starve to death. I dont' know what to feed them though. If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would GREATLY appreciate it (especially if it's about the toxicity of the salamanders).

Thanks!
Stina

I would remove them at once. Most all salamander species have toxins in them. I am not sure what to feed the little guys but small earthworms and small crickets are probably a good bet.

I wouldn't risk the toxicity issue with the turtle though.

Give him minnows or a goldfish to chase after. It is a safer bet.

Good luck
Steve

guppies work very well too ... there are lots of freeze fried options .. like bloodworms, shrimp krill that could be used as treats to add variety in their diet

>>Does anyone here know anything about feeding salamanders to turtles? I have a red-eared slider hatchling, and I put 5 northern two-lined salamanders that I caught in the (spring fed) stream in our back yard (please don't respond about the risks of introducing wild caught animals...I know them already). I would like to know if anyone has done this before. Also, I've been told that they can be toxic, but I don't know about the northern two-lined, except that people use them as fish bait a lot. Also, I would like to feed them if Sprocket (my RES) can't catch them so they don't starve to death. I dont' know what to feed them though. If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would GREATLY appreciate it (especially if it's about the toxicity of the salamanders).
>>

I guess I don't get why you want to feed them. That said I have fed larval two lined to a Candoia neonate (that is a solomon island ground boa....tiny as babies) and had no bad responses. I only fed about 1.5" larva and nothing adult. That may be an issue for toxicity but I would wonder if the turtle would even eat them.....Now my common muds...would probably eat them....they eat Buicks!
I'd go with more conventional feeder fish and frozen stuffs. Maybe dusted crix or mealies and waxies....my snapper baby likes them...but he eats anything too.
As to keeping them.....pinhead to 1/8 crix. moist moss and a shallow water dish...and a lid, they climb well.
-----
Sonya

Oh trust me...he'd eat them...I think he got a couple tail tips before I was informed of the toxicity possibility, and he seems fine, however I removed them and am now keeping them in a separate thing since I can't release them. I am going to get brine shrimp to feed him and salamanders. Are they acceptable?...

Brine shrimp are okay .. they are small shrimps so they are more like candy as well .. but way better then toxic .. just make sure you take the brine out of the salt water and rinse them then toss them in .. you might want to use a feeder container .. because brine are small that will make it easier for your turtle to snag a few