Red salamander larva

[Bill]

Today I collected a Northern Red Salamander with gills from a stream in SW Pennsylvania. It is about 4" long. I would like to see it through its transformation to terrestrial phase, then decide whether to keep it or release it. Any advice on habitat and feeding would be appreciated.

 

[lilsoul]

If your going to keep it through its transformation I woulden't release back to the wild

 

[Bill]

So, either release it now or keep it forever. I'm sure there's a good reason for that.
My book says they're fond of earthworms. I'm wondering about feeding it in the aquatic phase, and how important it is to replicate the running water environment it was in several hours ago in the wild.

 

[madeve]

I'm not sure how much current it likes or requires, I'm sure you can get a better answer if you post in the newt and salamander help section of the forum. As far as earthworms you couldn't be more right, not only do they like them but they are at the top nutritionally as a diet.

Good luck