Question: Feeding blackworms to terrestrial efts

[salamanderkeeper]

I've read here that feeding blackworms in dishes might work for terrestrial newts. i feel a little silly asking but do I put water in with the blackworms to keep them alive or leave them just moist so the newts are more likely to go in and get them?

 

[Niels D]

If I offer blackworms or tubifex in a terrestrial setup I use a petri dish with water in it. If you offer them on wet paper towel, they creep into the paper.

 

[salamanderkeeper]

Do you find most newts will poke into the water to get them?

 

[Niels D]

I've used this with Cynops, Notophthalmus, Tylototriton and Paramesotriton. These species, once completely terrestrial, only eat the worms out of the water, without getting into the dish for a long time.

 

[salamanderkeeper]

Thanks. Do you put the dish in their main terrarium or move them to something else? I put them in a critter keeper with paper towels and the worms overnight because I feared all the worms might leave the bowl but I did not see this also they live longer than I thought a couple days later most seemed to be alive so I am thinking of putting it in the main terrarium. I tried using the lid to a deli cup, just curious what size disk you were using and did you partially bury it?

 

[Niels D]

Just a standard petri dish I guess. I place it in terrestrial setups for 1 day. These worms are then given to aquatic animals. The other day I refill the dish with worms.

 

[Herpin Man]

I find that Gatorade lids are perfect for this. I put the blackworms in water, and the newts quickly learn to eat from the dish.

 

[salamanderkeeper]

Thanks I'll try those