Redback Salamander Care

[A Happy Seedling]

I found a redback salamander under a rock at 2 1/2 inches long, and my kids INSISTED on keeping it, so I put it in a storage box with live plants, a water dish (aka a jar lid full of water), a piece of tree bark, and some rocks. There are earthworms in the dirt, and some small beetles, and I put in dried mealworms (the bird feeder kind). I have not found it yet but my older daughter claims she saw it yesterday and it was about SO long! Point is, if you believe her, it grew. But how do I further care for it? I think it likes the box, as it COULD escape EASILY (the lid is off) if it needed to, since the box is kept outside in the yard, but it likes this better. Should I replenish the earthworms and beetles? It ate some dried worms too, but not all of them.

[tomc]

Salamanders are amphibians. They survive only in a very moist environment. Moist-er by far than a cardboard box can support.

If it was my yard and kids the minute they turned their heads I would set it free again. Supply some rocks as shelter. And maybe a saucer with water in it. With luck it will make baby salamanders and the kids can enjoy them in their environment.

[A Happy Seedling]

I mean a plastic box. It has lots of water, as I sprinkle every day.

[A Happy Seedling]

It escaped from its box. I think it was a juvenile and then it matured to a size that enabled it to escape. Well, I'm glad it's back in its environment. I hope raising it in a box will not prevent it from being able to catch insects...no, there were a lot of live insects and earthworms in there for it to catch. I am wishing it good luck.


P.S.: I had had it for a week before I posted that, so it had time to grow.