what do i feed my new 2 1/2 inch yellow spotted salamander

[justin shockey]

pleas help me out

[tylototriton]

Chopped up earthworms work great. You can also feed crickets and waxworms and the like, but chopped up earthworms (or just small ones) work great.

Alex

[justin shockey]

how do you feed them i don't think he will eat from my heads so do i take him out or just put them in

[John]

Spotteds tend to be shy but they eat well. If it hasn't eaten for you yet I would suggest putting a few crickets in (only a small number, like 3 or 4) and check the next morning to see if they are being eaten. You can try feeding with earthworms using a forceps or tweezers - persistence will usually pay off.

[Kurt]

Just for everyone's information, the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum is illegal to possess in the state of Massachusetts without permits, and Mass Fish Wildlife does not issue permits to private citizens for native wildlife. Trust me I have tried in the past. They don't care where you got it, they don't care if its captive bred. You will not get a permit for it. So sorry to rain on the parade.

PS I have been wanting marbled salamanders, Ambystoma opacum ever since I first laid eyes on them. Unfortunately the state considers it endangered, so I can't have it.

[justin shockey]

well that sucks

[Kurt]

Yeah. My understanding is that surveys have shown that there are plenty of them out there since the law was first written. Unfortunately, fish & wildlife haven't gotten around changing it and I doubt they will. We are still waiting for them to legalize a bunch of animals that they said they would.

[John]

I had no idea MA was this restrictive. Kurt, what other Ambystoma are protected there? I have Ambystoma mavortium mavortium (formerly known as Ambystoma tigrinum) and Ambystoma talpoideum.

[Kurt]

I had no idea MA was this restrictive. Kurt, what other Ambystoma are protected there? I have Ambystoma mavortium mavortium (formerly known as Ambystoma tigrinum) and Ambystoma talpoideum.

You're fine with those. All the Ambystomids that are illegal in MA all natives, such A. maculatum, A. opacum, A. laterale, and so on. Tigers, moles, small mouths, axoltls, and so on are all perfectly legal. Here is the skinny on what is legal and illegal - http://www.neherp.com/state-regulati...-massachusetts

I, too have A. mavortium, as well as A. tigrinum melanostictum. Both perfectly legal. All illegal amphibians in Massachusetts are native to the state. Interestingly, the eastern spadefoot toad is the only illegal frog.