Cave salamander care help

[Salamanderman21]

I was thinking about getting a cave salamander I was wondering if anybody on this forum has kept one if so how did it go what did it eat did it like a big water bowl what was the substrate what size tank did you keep it in just wondering if anybody has any information let me know thank you so much if you know someone that knows ask them thank you so much if you answer please

 

[frogface]

I was thinking about getting a cave salamander I was wondering if anybody on this forum has kept one if so how did it go what did it eat did it like a big water bowl what was the substrate what size tank did you keep it in just wondering if anybody has any information let me know thank you so much if you know someone that knows ask them thank you so much if you answer please

I've kept cave salamanders - they like to climb, so a tank with some vertical places for climbing is helpful (also make sure you have a secure tank lid to prevent escape). A water source is helpful for plethodontids (but I rarely noticed mine entering the water, they're pretty terrestrial). I fed mine flightless fruit flies and small crickets (always had good luck ordering from Ghann's for small crickets) dusted with vitamin supplements.

 

[Salamanderman21]

Do you think fruit flies and white worms would work too

 

[frogface]

Do you think fruit flies and white worms would work too

I've never fed worms, so I'm not sure on that (maybe someone else will chime in). Fruit flies should be fine - I always went with flightless D. hydei because they're nice and big and aren't so great at escaping (made foraging a lot easier for the salamanders).

 

[Salamanderman21]

How big of a tank are yours in

 

[Salamanderman21]

Also what kind of a substrate do you use

 

[frogface]

Also what kind of a substrate do you use

I kept them for work (research), so they were just in tupperwares with wet paper towels. But I've seen other/older threads on here showing nice set-ups for plethodontids that might have more information for you there.

 

[Salamanderman21]

What kind of research were you doing if you don't mind me asking

 

[frogface]

What kind of research were you doing if you don't mind me asking

oops, sorry for the delayed response (sometimes I don't get notifications on these threads!) we're a research lab doing eco-physiology (how animals tolerate environmental change/variability)

 

[Salamanderman21]

Oh okay

 

[Salamanderman21]

I got some cave salamanders yesterday

 

[Salamanderman21]

A male and a female

 

[Salamanderman21]

Do you think I could use eco-earth as a substrate

 

[KrabzAga]

Do you think I could use eco-earth as a substrate

You should try to mimic what cave salamanders cave in the wild as they are wild caught, ecoearth should work for now but research is advised.

 

[Salamanderman21]

I could also do a stream or forest habitat also they are eating have you ever kept them

 

[KrabzAga]

I haven't kept any cave salamanders but I would not recommend having a water area for them.

 

[Salamanderman21]

Right now they are in quarantine and I will work on there tank and am open to any questions or suggestions

 

[frogface]

I think ecoearth is fine, but they really love climbing on rock surfaces! There are a couple threads for E. lucifuga (and closely related E. longicauda, which occupy similar habitats in the wild) that I found that may be of interest to you:
Eurycea lucifuga rock wall enclosure
Feeding a Eurycea Lucifuga
Long-tailed salamander (Eurycea Longicauda) setup

 

[Salamanderman21]

I'm working on it

 

[Salamanderman21]

Could I use spray foam to make a background