Question: A. maculatum larvae

[Stephanie West]

I have two spotted larvae that I am attempting to raise (from eggs). One has metamorphosed already and has come "ashore" the other is still in the water with gills. They both "hatched" some time around the first or second week of april.
For a long time they got every other day infusions of vernal pool water for food, then pond water as the vernal pools dried up. For they past few weeks they've gotten itty bitty meal worms and pinhead crickets, both which they ate off the surface of the water. (cool!)
They are both about 1.5" long. I have not observed the metamorph eating since it came on to land. The other is still eating pinheads and occasional mealworms. They are in a tank with light colored gravel on one end (i know, lose the gravel...though right now the gravel is larger than the head of my metamorph) with water about an inch deep on the other.
I'm concerned about the metamorph. What else can i offer it to eat, as it is so tiny? I don't have access to wingless fruitflies. I've considered digging up some forest soil and just letting it fend for its self - b/c I'll never see it in the dark of soil. - but I'd like to have a good shot at raising these guys to adult size. Forests are DRY DRY DRY, so releasing them would be death sentence. ( I ended up with them b/c vernal pools dried so much quicker than expected)
Any thoughts/advice on their care and feeding? Thanks!

[igor]

Hi, sometimes the little ones are shy to eat, but once they get the hang of it, they don't stop! :) I've fed my Jefferson salamander metamorphs baby mealworms, chopped earthworms and chopped waxworms for the past month, and they are happy, healthy, quickly growing little things. I imagine yours - which are about the same size as mine - would take to the same foods. Good luck! :)

[Jan]

Some animals will refuse food during metamorphosis. What you are feeding should be suitable. Might also try chopped pieces of small earthworms, tiny grubs, small phoenix worms, etc.
Might also consider purchasing wingless fruitflies online.