Salamanders are quiet, careful animals that live in damp forests, streams, and wet soil. They hide under logs and leaves, coming out mostly at night to feed.
They do not make much noise or show strong emotions, but they play an important role in the natural world.
Many people who see a salamander for the first time wonder what it eats. Some think it might eat plants, fruits, or vegetables, especially if they are used to feeding pets like rabbits or lizards.
Salamanders do not eat vegetables. They are strict carnivores, which means they only eat other animals. Their diet includes insects, worms, spiders, and other small creatures. They are not built to digest plants or plant-based food.
In other words, vegetables are not part of a salamander’s diet. They need protein from living prey to survive.
What Does It Mean To Be a Carnivore?
A carnivore is an animal that eats only meat. This includes insects, worms, or other animals, alive or recently dead.
Salamanders are true carnivores. From the time they hatch or are born, they rely on protein from other animals to grow and stay healthy.
Their teeth, jaws, stomachs, and behaviors are all designed to catch and digest meat, not plants.
They do not nibble on leaves or chew on vegetables. Even soft foods like fruit or cooked greens are ignored or rejected.
Why Don’t Salamanders Eat Vegetables?
There are a few reasons why salamanders do not eat vegetables:
1. Their bodies can’t digest plant matter.
Salamanders lack the gut bacteria and enzymes needed to break down fiber, which is found in vegetables and other plants.
2. They need protein to grow and survive.
Plants do not contain the kinds of nutrients salamanders rely on, especially during growth and development.
3. They are built to hunt moving prey.
Salamanders are triggered to eat by movement. Vegetables do not move, so they usually do not even try to bite them.
Even in captivity, they will starve rather than eat vegetables.
What Do Wild Salamanders Eat Instead?
Wild salamanders eat a variety of live prey, depending on their size and the environment.
Land-dwelling salamanders eat:
- Small insects (like beetles, ants, and flies)
- Worms and grubs
- Spiders and snails
- Tiny crustaceans in damp soil
Aquatic salamanders eat:
- Insect larvae in streams
- Water bugs and worms
- Tiny snails and tadpoles
- Small fish or amphibians (if large enough)
They eat what they can catch, usually hunting at night or in damp conditions.
What Happens If a Salamander Is Given Vegetables?
If you offer a salamander a piece of vegetable, it will likely ignore it.
Because they are triggered by movement, they will not recognize vegetables as food. Even if they touch or lick it, they will not try to eat it.
If a captive salamander is only fed vegetables or fruit, it will stop eating and begin to lose weight. Over time, it will become weak, sick, and may die.
Feeding vegetables to a salamander can be harmful because it prevents them from getting the nutrition they need.
Can Salamanders Eat Fruit?
No. Salamanders do not eat fruit either.
Fruit contains sugar and fiber, which they cannot digest. Their bodies are not built to handle fruit, and it can upset their stomachs if swallowed.
Like vegetables, fruit does not move. It does not look or smell like food to a salamander.
Even sweet-smelling fruits like bananas or berries are rejected.
Are There Any Exceptions?
Some pet owners claim their salamander “tasted” a plant or fruit once, but these are rare and often misunderstood.
In nearly every case, the salamander was just exploring or mistaking the item for prey.
There are no known salamander species that regularly eat vegetables, fruit, or any plant material as part of their normal diet.
All scientific studies and field research show that salamanders eat only animal matter.
What Should You Feed a Pet Salamander?
If you are caring for a salamander, you should provide a diet of small live animals that match its size and species.
Good choices for land-dwelling species:
- Crickets (appropriately sized)
- Small worms (like earthworms or white worms)
- Fruit flies or pinhead crickets (for juveniles)
- Small roaches or beetle larvae
For aquatic species:
- Bloodworms
- Blackworms
- Brine shrimp
- Chopped earthworms
- Small feeder fish (for large aquatic species only)
Never feed lettuce, carrots, fruits, or other vegetables. These do not provide the nutrients salamanders need.
Why Do People Think Salamanders Might Eat Plants?
Some people confuse salamanders with reptiles like iguanas or certain turtles that eat plants. Others assume that, like frogs (in the tadpole stage), salamanders might accept a wide range of foods.
Also, salamanders move slowly and have soft skin. This may lead people to think they are gentle animals with simple diets.
But salamanders are hunters. They rely on meat to live, and their behavior is built around catching prey.
Even if they look calm, they are always on the lookout for small animals to eat.
What Do Baby Salamanders Eat?
Baby salamanders, also called larvae, start eating very soon after hatching.
They begin with tiny prey, such as:
- Water fleas
- Micro-worms
- Newly hatched insects
- Small aquatic crustaceans
They do not eat plants or vegetables at any stage of life. From the moment they are born, they need live prey.
As they grow, they move on to bigger insects or worms, but they stay carnivorous their entire lives.
Do Salamanders Ever Eat Dead Food?
Sometimes salamanders will eat food that is not moving if it smells like prey or is soft and fresh.
For example, they may accept:
- Chopped worms
- Thawed frozen bloodworms
- Dead insects that still have scent
But they will not eat rotting matter, old food, or vegetables.
In the wild, they mostly eat live animals. In captivity, some individuals can learn to take food from tongs if trained.
Still, all of this food must come from animals, not plants.
What About Supplementing Their Diet?
Some captive salamanders need vitamin or calcium supplements, especially if they are not exposed to natural light or soil.
However, this is done by dusting live insects with powder, not by feeding vegetables.
Supplements help prevent weak bones and other problems, but they must be used carefully.
Vegetables are not a substitute for proper food or care.
Why This Matters for Their Health
Feeding a salamander the wrong food can lead to:
- Weight loss
- Poor growth
- Weak bones
- Digestive problems
- Shorter lifespan
Because salamanders are quiet and often hide, it can be hard to tell when something is wrong. If they are not eating or growing, it may take time to notice.
Feeding them the right diet helps prevent problems before they start.
Conclusion
Salamanders do not eat vegetables. They are true carnivores that feed on insects, worms, and other small animals. Their bodies are not made to digest plants, and they do not recognize vegetables as food.
Feeding them vegetables, fruit, or plant matter can harm their health and lead to serious problems.
Whether in the wild or in captivity, salamanders need a diet of live, protein-rich prey to survive and grow.
Understanding their natural diet helps us care for them better, and helps keep these quiet, secretive creatures healthy for years to come.
Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.