feeding tiger sals pinkys

[shanerules]

I have read many different things on feeding pinkies to tiger salamanders. I have read that it is all around bad for them. But i also read it is a great source of protein. So should i begin feeding my tigers pinkies or not?

-shane

 

[oregon newt]

Maybe once a couple of months, but I wouldn't give them any more often than that. I would stick to earth worms.

 

[Kaysie]

My tigers get a pinkie about every 2 weeks. They're a good source of calcium, but are very nutrient dense.

 

[Jan]

I have read many different things on feeding pinkies to tiger salamanders. I have read that it is all around bad for them. But i also read it is a great source of protein. So should i begin feeding my tigers pinkies or not?

-shane

As Kaysie suggests, pinkies are very energy dense. With that comes the potential for obesity for which tigers have a natural inclination. I personally have never fed pinkies, but rather nightcrawlers (nutrionally complete), dusted crickets and other invertebrates. If you decide to feed pinkies, be cautious of obesity which is an unhealthy state for the animal. If you have not seen these articles from Caudata Culture on nutritional values of foods for caudates, you may find them beneficial:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods.shtml