Many spotted salamanders may lay eggs in the same place, so it is common to find dozens of egg clusters in the same location.

These eggs are covered by a thick jelly-like coating to protect them from unpredictable environmental conditions. It also protects them from predators (such as the eastern newt) that may try to eat them.

Spotted Salamanders Lay Eggs in the Spring

In early spring, warm rains trickle down into underground burrows where spotted salamanders spent the winter hibernating, and lure them to the surface. This is usually before the snow is completely gone and when pools are still partly frozen.

Once they emerge, spotted salamanders will migrate to wetlands with deep enough water where they can breed. This mass migration is often referred to as “the big night”.

In some towns, people close roads and gather to watch thousands of salamanders and frogs on their breeding migration.

During this migration, spotted salamanders can travel significant distances, sometimes up to half a mile.

Many salamanders can breed in ponds, lake edges, slow-moving streams, roadside ditches, or even deep tire tracks, but spotted salamanders very strongly prefer to breed in something called “vernal pools“

Vernal pools are temporal pools of water that form in the spring. They are formed when depressions on the ground are filled with water from melting snow and falling rain.

They are typically small and shallow, and unlike a pond or lake, they have no permanent source of water. This means they dry up in the summer.

Since they are temporal, they do not have fish that could eat the eggs before they hatch. This makes them ideal breeding sites.

How Spotted Salamanders Mate

Male spotted salamanders typically arrive at the breeding pools about a day or two before the females. Once in the breeding pools, the males will produce and scatter droplets of sperm called spermatophores.

These spermatophores look like small white cones and may be deposited on the pool bottom or even along submerged twigs and other vegetation near the pool bottom.

A day or two after the arrival of the males, the female spotted salamanders will arrive at the breeding pools and pick up the spermatophores with their cloaca, and fertilize their eggs internally. One male can fertilize several females, and a female can take in sperm from several males.

Once a female picks up a spermatophore, she will look for an attachment location for depositing her eggs. This is often on a submerged twig or other vegetation 8-10 inches of the water’s surface, but occasionally much deeper

If the pool has lots of emergent vegetation, eggs are often deposited in open areas which receive lots of sunlight.

What Spotted Salamanders Eggs Look Like (Identification)

Spotted salamander eggs are laid in masses of about 50 to 100 eggs; however, some masses can have as few as 10 or as many as 250 eggs. Each female can lay up to 3 masses.

When laid, each mass is embedded in special secretions from a gland in the salamander’s body. These secretions rapidly absorb water to create a jelly-like coating around the entire egg mass.

This jelly is usually clear but can sometimes be cloudy or opaque white. It is meant to protect the eggs from drying out if the water level drops. In addition to this jelly coating, each individual egg within the egg mass has a membrane-like outer shell made of jelly.

Spotted salamander egg masses are highly variable in size and shape. However, they usually range in diameter from one to six inches and tend to be oval, elongated, or sometimes even kidney-shaped.

Unlike many other amphibian egg masses, spotted salamander egg masses have a very dense/firm texture, similar to gelatin. If you pick up one of these egg masses, it will usually hold its shape in your hand.

As earlier mentioned, spotted salamanders lay eggs in communal breeding spots, so it’s common to find both clear and cloudy/opaque egg masses in the same pool or even attached to the same stick.

Algae Sometimes Give the Eggs a Greenish Glow

While the outer jelly surrounding salamander egg masses is important to protect the eggs, it makes it diffuse for oxygen to diffuse to the developing embryos (and carbon dioxide out).

This creates a problem because if the embryos do not breathe efficiently, they could suffocate and die before they fully develop.

To get around this, spotted salamanders have developed a symbiotic relationship with a special type of algae known as Oophila amblystomatis (which means “loves salamander eggs”).

The algae grow and bloom inside each egg. They then absorb carbon dioxide and ammonia waste produced by the embryo and produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

In this way, the embryo gets all the oxygen it needs for proper development and the algae get a nitrogen-rich environment to thrive.

However, as a side effect, the algae gives spotted salamander eggs a bright green glow.

In the past, scientists thought the algae only grew in the Jelly of the eggs. However, a 2010 study discovered that the algae also lives inside the cells of the salamander embryos as they develop.

This is the only known case where algae grow inside the cells of a vertebrate.

How Long Do Spotted Salamander Eggs Take to Hatch?

Spotted salamander eggs hatch about 30-60 days after they are laid. However, this will vary widely depending on the environmental conditions. The eggs will generally develop faster at warmer temperatures than at colder temperatures.

There have even been reports of spotted salamander eggs developing and hatching in only two weeks, however, this is unverified so it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

After hatching baby spotted salamanders (larvae) will live a fully aquatic life, just like frog tadpoles, until they transform into adult salamanders and leave to water.

What Spotted Salamander Larvae Look like?

Newly hatched spotted salamander larvae have feathery external gills just behind the head and below these, a pair of “balancers” which keep them upright. Balancers are lost after a couple of days.

These larvae grow quickly, feeding on daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates until they are ready to transform into terrestrial juveniles through a process known as metamorphosis.

During metamorphosis the larvae will go through the following:

• Their gills will shorten and eventually be absorbed into the head
• They will develop lungs for breathing air
• They develop strong legs for walking long land
• Their flat tail will shorten and become more rounded

Once this process is fully complete, the larvae will leave the water and grow into adult spotted salamanders that people are more familiar with.

How to Care For and Hatch Spotted Salamander Eggs in Captivity

Taking care of spotted salamander eggs is fairly easy. If you live in an area within the natural range of spotted salamanders, the eggs can be cared for and hatched outdoors (during the normal breeding season).

Construct a pool about 8 feet by 12 feet utilizing wooden or concrete walls sunken into the ground to a depth of about 10 inches. Place lots of sand and natural forest debris into the pool to simulate a natural pond bottom.

Place the eggs in the pool and remember to watch pool water levels and monitor the eggs to ensure the embryos are developing properly.

Once the eggs hatch, you can start feeding the larvae (baby salamanders) on the second or third day. Before that, the leftover nutrients from the eggs will meet all their energy requirements.

Check out what do spotted salamanders eat, for detailed information on what you can feed the baby spotted salamanders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do Spotted Salamanders Protect Their Eggs?

Answer: Although some salamander species remain with their eggs after laying to protect them from predators, spotted salamanders do not. Male spotted salamanders will leave the breeding pool once the fertilization process is complete. Females will leave and abandon the eggs soon after laying too.

The outer protective jelly coating is the only anti-predator defense these eggs have. For this reason, many predators, most notably the eastern newt, frequently eat spotted salamander eggs.

Question: Can Spotted Salamanders Lay Eggs on Land? 

Answer: Some salamander species, such as the red-backed salamander lay their eggs on land. However, spotted salamanders exclusively lay their eggs in water.

Still, they sometimes lay their eggs in ditches, deep tire tracks, or shallow puddles after a rain. If the water in these bodies dries too soon, the eggs will not hatch; and if they do, the larvae will not develop enough to leave the water.

Conclusion

Spotted salamanders mate in the spring and lay their eggs in masses in water, attached to twigs and other vegetation below the water’s surface.

These masses are relatively easy to identify and can be differentiated from wood frog eggs by the jelly coating covering the entire egg mass.

If you ever arrive at a known breeding pond looking for spotted salamander egg masses but do not see any; carefully look at the bottom of the pool. If you see tiny white cones that look like specks of paint (spermatophores), you are too early.

Give it a night or two and you will most likely find egg masses when you return.

Ezra Mushala

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.

snakeinformer.com

The post Everything to Know about Spotted Salamander Eggs first appeared on Snake Informer.

Like many amphibians, Spotted salamanders produce poisonous skin secretions that make them taste bad to predators. These secretions are merely irritating and won’t kill a human, even if ingested. However, they can make some small animals sick.

Spotted salamanders are normally very harmless creatures, provided they are handled carefully. The only real threat they have is that they and other amphibians can carry Salmonella which is harmful to humans, so it’s best not to touch them.

If you do handle one, practicing sufficient levels of hygiene and washing your hands after, should keep you out of harm’s way.

Spotted Salamanders Only Secrete a Mild Toxin

The secretion may also have the added benefit of making the salamander slightly slimy, making it harder for predators to get a firm grip. While the predator is still trying to get a grip, the salamander can dash to safety.

Bright Yellow Spots Warn Predators of the Spotted Salamanders’ Toxic Defense

If you see a brightly colored amphibian, those colors usually mean “stay away from me, I’m toxic!” (think poison dart frogs).

Such coloration is called aposematism or ‘warning coloration. Many animals use it to advertise that they are toxic and would make a horrible meal for any would-be predator.

In the case of spotted salamanders; the distinctive vivid yellow to orange spots speckled along their black backs, tell predators that these salamanders have a toxin and would make a horrible meal.

An animal that eats a brightly colored spotted salamander will get a mouthful of toxin and remember the experience. The next time that animal sees another similarly colored salamander, it will associate those colors with danger and learn to avoid it.

Poisonous but Not Venomous

People often use the words “poisonous” and “venomous” interchangeably, but you should know that these two terms mean very different things.

Sure, they both refer to toxins that can be harmful to us, but the difference lies in how the toxins are delivered.

Generally;

• Venomous animals will bite, sting, or stab you to deliver their toxin.
• On the other hand, you have to eat or touch poisonous animals to be affected by their toxin.

This means venomous animals need a way to inject their toxins, such as fangs or stings. Poisonous animals on the other hand are more passive, often lining their skin with toxins to deter predators.

In this way, bees are venomous, along with plenty of snakes, spiders, and scorpions while many frogs, newts, and Salamanders, including spotted salamanders, are poisonous.

Spotted Salamanders Typically Aren’t Dangerous to Humans

This can happen when you handle a spotted salamander with your bare hands, then rub your eyes without first washing your hands.

Ingesting toxins this way would most likely give you a painful sting, similar to the feeling you get when chili gets in your eye. It may even cause inflammation in the mucous membranes of your eyes.

Another way the toxins can be absorbed is through open sores or cuts on your skin. This would most likely lead to a burning sensation and a feeling of numbness at the point of contact.

For this reason, it is a good idea to avoid handling spotted salamanders, or any other salamanders. Although their poison is not lethal when ingested by humans, it can still be very irritating.

If you ever need to handle a spotted salamander, remember to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth until you have washed your hands. Also, avoid handling salamanders with your bare hands if you have open cuts or scratches on your hands.

Salamanders Can Carry Salmonella

Like most amphibians, spotted salamanders can carry harmful bacteria called salmonella in their digestive tracts.

A salamander carrying salmonella may look very clean and healthy but can transmit the bacteria to humans. Humans can be exposed through contact with the salamander or its droppings.

You can also be exposed by touching anything the salamander has come In contact with, such as water in an aquarium/terrarium where the salamander lives.

Exposure to salmonella can cause an infection called salmonellosis, which is characterized by a running stomach, fever, and sometimes even vomiting.

The infection is usually mild but can spread to the bloodstream, leading to severe and sometimes even fatal illness.

Fortunately, you won’t get sick by simply touching a spotted salamander. The bacteria can only cause illness when they get inside your body.

For this reason, it is important to practice good hygiene and wash your hands with antibacterial soap after touching salamanders or anything they came in contact with.

Are Spotted Salamanders Dangerous to Dogs, Cats, or Other Pets?

If a pet, for instance, a dog or cat were to bite or attack a spotted salamander, it would get a mouthful of bitter toxin and most likely let go right away.

If a dog (or cat) ingests enough of this secretion, it may droll, foam at the mouth, and in some cases even vomit. Although only mildly poisonous, the secretion is still strong enough seriously irritate a dog (especially small dogs) or cat.

Fortunately, there are no documented deaths or serious injuries of pets that have attacked or tried to eat a spotted salamander.

Still, it’s best to keep your dogs, cats, or any other pets away from spotted salamanders (and any other salamanders) if you can. If you have pet salamanders at home, keep them secured in their enclosure so they do not come in contact with any of your other pets.

Salamanders Can Carry Parasites

In addition, salamanders often carry tapeworms and other parasites, so a dog that eats a spotted salamander is not only at risk of poisoning, but may also be exposed to parasites.

Also, as earlier mentioned, salamanders can carry salmonella bacteria so a dog or cat that mouths, bites or eats a spotted salamander may ingest the bacteria and develop an infection.

Safety Precautions to Take When Handling Spotted Salamanders

In general, It’s not a good idea to handle spotted salamanders. This is because they have very delicate semi-permeable skin which they use to absorb moisture and oxygen.

Their skin does not just absorb water though, anything that comes in contact with their skin can be absorbed, including salts, lotions, and other chemicals on your hands.

This means handling a spotted salamander with dirty hands can harm it. Substances on your hands can be absorbed into the salamander’s body. For this reason, it is a good idea to never handle salamanders unless you absolutely have to.

If you ever have to handle a salamander, take the following safety precautions:

Before Handling

• Very thoroughly wash your hands and ensure they are very clean. Not just clean from dirt, but washed off thoroughly so that there is no residue of soap or any other potentially harmful substances that remain.

After Handling

• Very thoroughly wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap.

Remember, salamanders can secrete toxins and may carry salmonella so you have to protect yourself. Even if you wore gloves, I suggest you go the extra mile and wash thoroughly.

Before washing your hands, do not touch your face, rub your eyes, or put anything in your mouth.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: Do spotted salamanders bite?

Answer: Spotted salamanders do bite, however, this is very rare. They are normally very docile creatures that will typically put up no fight in your hands aside from an initial struggle.

The only time a spotted salamander may bite is during feeding when it mistakes your finger for food, or when it is being handled in a way that makes it uncomfortable.

A bite from a spotted salamander is nothing to be worried about. It’s more of a shock than anything because its tiny teeth are unlikely to even hurt your skin.

Conclusion

Spotted salamanders are normally harmless creatures when left alone. The only real threat they pose is that they can be carriers of salmonella, which can be transmitted to humans.

However, this threat can be dramatically reduced by simply practicing decent levels of hygiene. Other than that, spotted salamanders are mostly harmless creatures.

Photo credit: adamgabriel/inaturalist. yan_tonz/inaturalist.

Ezra Mushala

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.

snakeinformer.com

The post Are Spotted Salamanders Poisonous to Humans or Pets? first appeared on Snake Informer.

Spotted salamanders are opportunistic carnivores that will eat almost any prey that can fit into their mouths. Spiders, millipedes, worms, slugs, and a wide variety of insects make up most of their diet in the wild. In captivity, they can be fed earthworms, crickets, grubs, and other soft-bodied insects. 

Spotted salamanders start their lives as tiny aquatic larvae, feeding on aquatic insects, insect larvae, and small crustaceans such as daphnia and fairy shrimp.

As they grow into adults, they can eat larger prey, such as frog tadpoles, larger insects, and even other salamanders.

What Spotted Salamanders Eat In the Wild

Spotted salamanders start their lives as tiny aquatic larvae with external feathery gills and a flat tailfin for their life in the water.

Two to five months later, these larvae will go through a process known as metamorphosis and transform into adults with lungs for a life on land.

During these life stages, spotted salamanders will have a slightly different diet, based on the food sources in their environment.

What Baby Spotted Salamanders Eat in the Wild

Spotted salamander larvae are aggressive predators that will hunt and eat small invertebrates they can catch. Since spotted salamanders lay eggs in fishless ponds (vernal pools), the larvae are often one of the dominant predators in their ponds.

When they first hatch, they feed on

• Aquatic insects
• Mosquito larvae
• Small worms
• Small crustaceans such as fairy shrimp

As they grow bigger, they can eat larger prey, such as

• Frog tadpoles
• Immature fish
• Small insects
• Slugs, snails, leeches, and even other salamander larvae.

What Juvenile Spotted Salamanders Eat in the Wild

After a few months, the larvae would have grown enough to slowly begin transforming into adults through a process known as metamorphosis, which prepares them for a life on land.

During this process, they lose their gills, develop lungs for breathing air, and their flat tail fin will thicken and become more rounded.

Once this process is fully complete, the larvae will leave the pond for a life on land. At this point, their diet will shift away from aquatic prey and toward mainly terrestrial prey. However, since they are not fully grown yet, they can only eat small prey.

Juvenile spotted salamanders will eat:

• Small worms
• Small slugs, snails
• Crane flies and other small insects

What Adult Spotted Salamanders Eat in the Wild

Adult spotted salamanders are fully grown, meaning they have bigger mouths and stronger jaws. This makes them able to eat larger prey.

Here’s a list of things that make up an adult spotted salamanders diet in the wild:

• Worms, grubs
• Centipedes, millipedes
• Spiders, cockroaches, wasps
• Snails, slugs, leeches  
• Tadpoles, small frogs (and frog eggs)
• Immature fish (and fish eggs)
• Smaller salamanders and salamander larvae
• Baby mice
• Moths, butterflies
• Beetles and a wide variety of other bugs such as grasshoppers and fruit flies 

While spotted salamanders have teeth, they don’t use them to chew. They only use their teeth to grab their prey, then swallow it whole, so they will never eat anything they can not swallow whole.

What Spotted Salamanders Eat In Captivity

Spotted salamanders in captivity can eat all the food they would in the wild. The only reason they have a different diet is that we can’t easily obtain a wide variety of prey. We are mostly limited to what we can purchase in a pet store, or cultivate on our own.

In captivity, they can be fed worms and feeder insects such as crickets, and dubia roaches. You could also feed your salamander wild-caught bugs. Just make sure you’re 100% sure they are from a clean area that is free of pesticides and other chemicals.

Here’s a list of things you can feed a spotted salamander in captivity:

• Earthworms (Nightcrawlers, red worms, etc) 
• Crickets
• Dubia roaches
• Mealworms 
• Waxworms
• Silkworms
• Super worms
• The occasional pinkie mouse 

Young salamanders can be fed springtails, pinhead crickets, small red worms, and small wax worms. As they grow, larger prey items can be added to their diet. A rule of thumb is to never give a salamander anything larger than the width of its mouth.

A varied diet is recommended, so food items will have to be changed every few feedings. Crickets and be substituted by dubia roaches and mealworms can be substituted by silkworms.

Dusting & Gut Loading Feeder Insects

In captivity, spotted salamanders do not have access to the wide variety of prey they eat in the wild. In addition, feeder insects are usually raised on a poor diet, so they are not as nutritious as wild insects.

For this reason, it is recommended to gut-load feeder insects before feeding them to your spotted salamander.

Gut loading is the process of feeding insects nutritious foods at least 48 hours before feeding them to your salamander. The nutrients in the insects will be passed on to the salamander. What is inside the insects will determine how nutritious of a meal they are.

The process is simple

• Give your feeder insects nutrient-dense foods, such as fresh vegetables with lots of vitamin C.
• After eating this food, the feeder insect will be super nutritious and pass the nutrients on to the salamander when they are eaten.

Doing this helps the salamander get all the nutrients it needs so it can stay strong and healthy.

Dusting

Besides gut loading, another way to ensure your spotted salamander gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs is by dusting its food with calcium and vitamin supplements.

The most common way salamander owners do this is through the use of a commercially manufactured vitamin and mineral supplement such as Rep-Cal.

The process is simple

• First, add a small pinch of supplement powder into a small container such as a cup or an empty cereal container. The powder should only be enough to lightly dust the insects.
• Place one feedings worth of feeder insects in the container
• Gently shake the container so the supplements lightly coat the insects

Once finished, you can offer the dusted insects to your spotted salamander. It will consume the supplements when it eats the insects.

How Much & How Often to Feed a Spotted Salamander in Captivity

Adult spotted salamanders have to feed two times a week, while younger spotted salamanders will have to be fed every day or two.

How much to feed your salamander will depend on the food being offered. However, a general rule is to only offer the salamander as much food as it will eat in 15-20 minutes.

In my personal experience, I have found that spotted salamanders will eat four to six two-week-old crickets in a single session. This is just my own experience so you will have to experiment on your own.

Start by offering the salamander four crickets (or any other food item). If it eats all the crickets in a single feeding session, slowly increase the amount given by one cricket. Monitor the weight of the salamander and make sure it’s not becoming overweight.

What Baby Spotted Salamanders Eat In Captivity

In the wild, spotted salamander larvae are aggressive predators that eat tiny aquatic prey they can catch.

In captivity, spotted salamander larvae should be fed tiny live foods. The appropriate foods will depend on the size and age of the larvae. Newly hatched larvae should be fed newly hatched brine shrimp, daphnia and chopped white worms, and chopped tubifex worms.

When the larvae are two-three weeks old, they will be large enough to eat bigger things, such as adult brine shrimp, daphnia, glass worms, and chopped earthworms.

Once the larvae transform into adults, they can be fed wingless fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and other small live prey. As they get bigger, they will be able to eat larger things.

How to Feed a Captive Spotted Salamander

The easiest way to feed a salamander is to simply dump the food into an exposed area of its enclosure. When the salamander sees the prey moving, it will hunt and eat it, just like it would in the wild.

However, some salamanders, especially those that are still getting used to a new place may be shy and reluctant to eat. In this case, you could entice the salamander to eat with the use of some tweezers.

Use the tweezers to gently hold the food item, then rub it near the nose of the salamander. Once he sees it, he will grab and eat it.

Why Isn’t My Spotted Salamander Eating?

• The Prey Item Being Offered Is Too Big

The first reason a spotted salamander may reject food is that the prey item you are offering is just too big. Remember, salamanders do not chew their food, so they will not eat anything they can now swallow whole.

If you offer a young spotted salamander an excessively large worm or insect, it most likely won’t even attempt to eat it. As a general guide, never offer a salamander any prey larger than the width of its head.

• It Is Not Accustomed to the Food Item Being Offered

Another possible reason a spotted salamander may reject food is that it is not used to eating the food you are offering. Try switching the food item being offered. Most salamanders will readily accept worms and crickets.

• It Is Still Getting Used to a New Place Or Is Under Stress

Sometimes, a salamander may not eat because it is under stress or getting used to a new place. This is a very common problem among new salamanders.

To remedy this, try moving the salamander to a dark room, and leave it alone to relax and settle down for a while. In the wild, salamanders are nocturnal creatures, so they will be more active in the dark.

• The Environmental Temperatures Are Low 

A fourth possible reason may be the temperature. Remember, salamanders are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, which means the temperature of their environments affects their internal temperature.

At temperatures of 64°F (18°C), spotted salamanders will have a slower metabolism, and won’t have the biggest appetite so may do with a single feeding session a week.

This is nothing to be worried about. With an increase in temperature, the salamander will have a much faster metabolism and a larger appetite.

• Disease or a Parasitic Infection 

A fifth and more serious reason a spotted salamander may reject food is due to disease or an infection. Carefully inspect the salamander for any sign of infection, and contact a veterinarian for further instructions.

Common Feeding Mistakes

There are a few common mistakes salamander owners make while feeding their pets.

Feeding Dead Bugs

In the wild, spotted salamanders are hunters that are attracted by the motion (movement) of their prey. Most spotted salamanders won’t eat dead bugs, so a captive spotted salamander that is offered dead bugs will most likely reject the meal and starve. Only feed live bugs and other prey items!

Using the Wrong Size Feeder Insects

Offering a small salamander a large roach will be problematic. The salamander will not be able to eat the insect and will starve. Remember, salamanders don’t chew their food, so they will never eat anything they can not swallow whole. Do not give the salamander anything larger than the width of its mouth.

Using a Limited Diet

Different foods have different nutrients. Feeding a salamander a varied diet means it will get the right amount of nutrients from different food sources and stay strong and healthy. A limited diet is the exact opposite of this. The salamander may not get certain nutrients and end up weak and malnourished.

Overfeeding/Underfeeding

Spotted salamanders have huge appetites, so overfeeding is a real possibility. Obesity could lead to several health problems. Alternatively, underfeeding means the salamander will be undernourished and have poor health.

Conclusion

Spotted Salamanders are very opportunistic feeders and make the best of the food sources available in their environment. They will eat almost any prey small enough to fit into their mouths.

Since they are slow-moving animals, they use an ambush hunting technique. They will burrow in the dirt, then use their sticky tongs to catch prey that passes in front of them. They are not picky eaters so they will eat almost any prey they can catch.

Ezra Mushala

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.

snakeinformer.com

The post What Spotted Salamanders Do and Don’t Eat: Ultimate Guide first appeared on Snake Informer.