ambystoma laterale (blue spotted sal) or ambystoma maculatum (spotted sal)?

[dustoj]

Here are images of my three salamander morphs. I got the eggs from a familiar vernal pool where I had gotten and raised ambystoma laterale (blue spotted salamander) eggs the previous year. However, I found this year's eggs later in the spring (late may instead of mid april). I assumed I was raising blue spotteds, and even after they morphed, I assumed they would eventually lose their faint gold dusting and gain blue spots, as my ambystoma laterale did the previous year. However, the gold dusting has only been getting brighter and brighter and I am thinking they may be ambystoma maculatum (spotted salamanders). Of the three that I kept to morphing, one has fairly bright gold spots, one has medium spots, and one is very faint. If anyone has raised ambystoma maculatum (spotted salamanders) I would appreciate any opinions. Thanks.

Also, I've been feeding them on fruit flies. Has anyone had luck with anything else? They are too small for whole worms and are fairly shy so feeding chopped worms is hard. These morphs also seem shyer than last years blue spotteds.

 

[i_love_necturus]

They look like Ambystoma maculatum to me. A nice looking bunch.

 

[Slimy2]

Yep, I'm going with Ryan. A bunch of spotteds.

 

[dane_zu]

i agree, definite A. mac.

 

[Kaysie]

Spotteds are usually quite a bit more shy than blue spotteds. I've never really figured out why. But keeping them is just the same: some soil, some hides, a little water dish.

As long as they're eating fruit flies, and you dust the flies occasionally, I would keep that up. Or you can try feeding them chopped worms in a minimalistic setup (so the worms can't escape).