Can Pet Salamanders Eat Pinkie Mice?

Western Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortium on the ground

If you keep pet salamanders, you’ve probably heard about pinkie mice as a feeder option. Pinkies are tiny, newborn mice without fur, often used as food for snakes, lizards, and some amphibians. But salamanders are different from many other pets. So, can they safely eat pinkie mice? And is it a good idea? Yes, some … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Mice?

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum on wet leaves

Salamanders are quiet hunters with wide mouths and a taste for meat. Some are tiny and eat bugs. Others are surprisingly large and can gulp down bigger prey. So if you’ve seen a big salamander in the wild or at a pet store, you might wonder, could it eat a mouse? Yes, large salamanders can … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Mosquito Larvae?

Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus larva 1

Mosquitoes are known for their annoying bites, but before they start buzzing around, they begin life as tiny wiggling larvae in water. Since salamanders often live in ponds and streams, especially when they’re young, it makes sense to wonder, do they eat those larvae? Yes, many salamanders eat mosquito larvae, especially when they are still … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Leeches?

Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum swimming in a shallow pool 1

Salamanders and leeches both like wet places. You’ll find them hiding under rocks, swimming through ponds, or buried in the mud. Since they sometimes live side by side, it’s natural to wonder,  do salamanders ever eat leeches? Yes, some salamanders will eat leeches if they’re small and easy to catch. Leeches aren’t a main part … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Leaves?

Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa on gravel 1

Salamanders live in leafy forests, damp gardens, and even underwater streams. You’ll often see them sitting on leaves or hiding under them, especially after it rains. Since they’re surrounded by plants most of the time, it’s fair to wonder, do salamanders ever eat the leaves around them? No, salamanders do not eat leaves. They are … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Ladybugs?

Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum with soil on its body 2

Ladybugs are small, slow, and brightly colored. They crawl through gardens and forests, often landing on leaves or climbing over rocks. Since salamanders live in a lot of the same places and eat small insects, you might wonder, do they go after ladybugs too? Salamanders might try to eat ladybugs, but they usually avoid them … Read more

Can Salamanders Eat Hornworms?

Hornworm 1

Hornworms are fat, squishy caterpillars that are sometimes sold as feeder insects. They’re bright green, slow-moving, and full of moisture, which makes them look like an easy snack for a lot of reptiles and amphibians. But what about salamanders? Can they eat hornworms too? Yes, salamanders can eat hornworms, but only if the worm is … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Lizards?

Western Slimy Salamander Plethodon albagula on a rock

Salamanders are sneaky hunters. They move slow, stay quiet, and strike fast when something small gets too close. Most of the time, they eat bugs, worms, and other little things that fit easily in their mouths. But what about lizards? Those are reptiles, not insects. And some of them can get pretty big. Salamanders don’t … Read more

Do Salamanders Sing?

Western Slimy Salamander Plethodon albagula on green moss

When you walk through the woods at night or near a quiet pond, you might hear frogs calling, croaks, chirps, or peeps filling the air. These sounds are familiar in spring and summer, especially during breeding season. But salamanders live in many of the same places. So, you might wonder: do salamanders sing too? Salamanders … Read more

What Do Salamanders Eat In Caves?

Long-tailed Salamander Eurycea longicauda on wet rocky ground

Caves are strange places. They’re dark, quiet, and often full of things that don’t live anywhere else. And believe it or not, some salamanders spend their entire lives in these deep, underground spaces. But what do salamanders eat in caves? Salamanders typically feed on tiny insects, crustaceans, and worms found in cave systems. They use … Read more