Plethodon cinereus food items

[miriam]

Hi,
I was considering keeping this species of salamanders. I've read that they are easy animals to keep and they don't need such a big tank. I've read all the info on caudata culture, but I was wondering what you keepers feed them and if they accept live bloodworms or dead wax worms as well? Because food items are not available all year round where I live. I was thinking on buying one, maybe two and keeping it in a small terrarium with coconut fiber (the thing that swells in water)on the ground and woodland debri on top of that (the stuff that's also for sale) with branches.

 

[olaf]

Hi,
my cinereus feed mainly on small crickets. I don`t think they eat anything dead. Part of my cinereus substrate is half rotten leaves and moss from the forest, it is full of small insects and mites.
Important is a low temperature, i have my cinereus in the cellar between 6 and 17°C. They are active throughout the year.
They are very nice but difficult to see.
Good luck, Olaf

 

[edward]

P. cinereus will readily take frozen ffs once they thaw. They located them through olfaction. This has been documented in the literature.

Ed

 

[olaf]

Hi Ed,
I didnt know that - thank you.
Olaf

 

[miriam]

So it is possible to feed them frozen dead food if necessary? What food items will they take, dead or alive?

 

[edward]

The only one I know that has been confirmed is frozen fruit flies.

Ed

 

[cameron]

I feed mine live crickets and chopped worms on a thin stick. Mine are the Northern species