Posted by Paige Vaden on March 13, 2006

Q: I'm 14 years old and I recently found salamander eggs in my backyard and brought them to my science class as a class projet. They haven't hatched yet but we need to know how 2 feed them and care for them. and i also would appreciate it if you can identify it for me. it looks dark brown with black spots. they live in my running creek with cold water. i live in cumming ga, we would also like to know how old the eggs are. they are in a lear sack, and their bodies are white and about 2 1/2mm long. when i first found them they were shaped like balls now their streched out and moving. I'd really love 2 know before they hatch if you could.

Thanks,

Paige

Habitat: stream/river

State: Georgia

Habitat: stream/river

A: Thanks for writing Paige but you left out one important bit of information! Were the eggs found in wet moss or rotten wood on land or were they found in the water? This makes a big difference in deciding what species you have.

It does sound as though you may have found the eggs on land (in a very moist place) and IF this is the case, your salamander eggs are one of the Plethodon species (Woodland Salamanders). There are quite a few of these so I can't tell you exactly which one but this will give you a good idea of the kind you're dealing with.

The Plethodon salamanders complete full development within the egg and do not spend time living in the water as larvae. On hatching they'll need a variety of tiny invertebrates to eat making them extremely difficult, if not impossible, to raise. Your best bet would be to release them back into a woodland environment where they can find food an grow properly.

I know it would be fun to raise some salamanders but you certainly don't want to watch these little guys starve to death either. For now, be sure to keep the eggs moist - mosses around the eggs will help. Don't use any chlorinated water for moistening. Thanks for writing and best of luck.

John Wiessinger ( March 14, 2006)