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<BODY><FONT COLOR= FF0000><B>HOUSING</B></FONT><FONT COLOR= 0000FF> This salamander needs enough dirt to be able to burrow as it is part of the mole salamander family. I have big clumps of dirts for it in a house that contains just over the FLOOR SPACE of a five gallon aqaurium. Spaghnum moss is a good substrate to have in the tank. Always make sure the bedding is damp and a short dish of water is a good idea as long as the salamander can easily access/leave it. </FONT>
<P><FONT COLOR= FF000000><B>FEEDING</B></FONT><FONT COLOR= 000000FF>This salamander, being realativey large, can consume more of a variety of insects. Mine refuses pellets al togerther. The basis of his diet is feeder crickets (5 a day is good) and I've seen him eat slugs before, and i have 2 or 2 earthworms in his tank. Generally he won't eat mealworms. Interms of calcium supplements: I supplement all his crickets all though it probably isn't nessacary as long as you offer him a varied diet. I use Rep Cal with a 2:0 rate which is a lot of calcium. Supplement the crickets by putting them in a smal plastic bag and shake them a few times until they're covered well.</P></FONT>
<P><FONT COLOR= FF000000><B>WHEN YOU GO AWAY</B></FONT><FONT COLOR= 000000FF> I recently went away for a week and left my red backed salamanders and the spotted alone. I left standard cricket feed (availible in the reptile section of stores) in his tank and about 25 crickets. The only problems I had were the tank dried and I wet him right away with cold water when I got back.</P></FONT>
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