Red-Spotted Efts

[Gene0514]

I went to a local small park that was supposed to have a pond there (hoping to do some herping), but it turned out that the pond dried out. On the way out of the park, I decided to flip over a log. Underneath it, to my surprise, were these two little red-spotted efts (terrestrial stage of the Eastern Newt). The dirt was completely dry and they were acting lethargic (It was in the mid-80s outside). I decided to take them home. I've been feeding them pinhead crickets (which have been popping up in my WTF tank). Today I tong-fed both of them for the first time. It was awesome.

Here are some pics of the little guys
One was in the corner of the tank, while the other one was under the rock.

size comparison

 

[Gene0514]

Some pics of them cuddled together, I'm gonna go get some termites tomorrow from where i found them, to give them a nice supply of food

 

[snakeguy101]

very cool man, I wish you the best of luck with them. I have never kept salamanders before so I can't really help you other than to say keep them cool and moist.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I've kept them in the past. Make sure to keep the tank is moist but not wet. Use some eco earth soil for substrate and have lots of pieces of bark and moss for them to hide under. Have a shallow dish of water for them too. They'll eat pinhead crickets or fruit flies. Keep them cool.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Sir, those are the cutest things I have ever seen. Lemme know if you find any more, I would love to give it a shot. Unless I'm mistaken, it would be easier to keep them cool in a Rubbermaid crate, no?

 

[Gene0514]

Thanks everyone
I will switch their set up to a more woodland one this weekend.
Right now, I am off to get some termites!

 

[CTU2fan]

Good luck with them. I've kept them in the past and just released them after awhile (I know, I know...I was maybe 11 or 12 though). I used to just change out their substrate with fresh woods dirt and leaves, and they'd eat whatever little creepy crawlies that came in with the leaves. They would likely enjoy sphagnum moss too as you can easily moisten it for them, and if you put some bark pieces etc in there they'll climb a bit, more than other salamanders anyway.

 

[Gene0514]

cool
I'm gonna replace the paper towel with coco fiber and add some pieces of bark and sphagnum moss

 

[krzr3000]

nice, good luck. looks like they could use more places to hide.

 

[CTU2fan]

cool
I'm gonna replace the paper towel with coco fiber and add some pieces of bark and sphagnum moss

Cool, throw up some new pics when you do. The efts/newts seem to be really localized, I've found them in bunches in certain places, but outside those spots I've never seen them. If you check back where you found them you'll probably find dozens more.