If you’re a fan of salamanders, then the Eastern red-backed salamander should definitely be on your list of favourites. These colourful amphibians are found throughout eastern North America and have two distinct colour phases, as well as a number of fascinating behaviours. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this species and discuss their behaviour, habitat, and care.
If you’re interested in learning how to properly care for a similar species, such as the Cheat Mountain Salamander, check out this helpful guide: how to care for a cheat mountain salamander.
How to Care for an Eastern Red-backed Salamander?
Eastern red-backed salamanders can make excellent pets and require similar care to that of other amphibians. They need an appropriate habitat, depending on their species, as well as nutrient-rich food sources such as worms, small insects, insect larvae, and other invertebrates.
Additionally, Eastern red-backed salamanders need UVB lighting to help them properly digest their food and regulate their body temperature. The tank should also contain some branches, rocks, and leaves for the animal to explore and hide in. Finally, you’ll also need to have a water dish and small gravel or pebbles for them to move around on.
If you’re interested in learning how to care for an Eastern Red Backed Salamander, you may find some helpful tips in this article about how to care for a blue ridge spring salamander.
What is the Eastern Red-backed Salamander?
The Eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a species of small terrestrial salamander found in eastern North America. It can be easily identified by its bright orange or red stripes running down its back and sides. These salamanders also have two different colour phases – grey/brown with dark blotches or stripes and an all-black phase. Depending on their environment, some individuals may even display both colour phases simultaneously!
If you’re interested in learning how to care for an Eastern Red Backed Salamander, you may find some helpful tips in this article about how to care for an eastern hellbender.
Behaviour and Habitat of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Eastern red-backed salamanders prefer moist habitats such as deciduous forests but can also be found in grassy areas, near streams, and under logs or rocks. They are primarily nocturnal creatures; during the day they hide beneath logs or rocks to keep cool and moist while they sleep. At night they come out to forage for food such as insects, spiders, mites, beetles, slugs, snails, worms etc.
In breeding season from August to October males will actively seek out females for mating purposes. Female eastern red-backs lay around 100 eggs which hatch into larvae after about 45 days. The larvae then transform into adults after 7–9 months depending on temperature and food availability in their environment.
Temperament
Eastern Red-backed Salamanders have an active temperament and will make use of their entire terrarium if given enough space to explore. They are nocturnal creatures so they will be most active at night when they hunt for food, but they may also be seen during the day if their environment is damp enough.
They should not be kept with overly aggressive animals as they can be easily intimidated by larger reptiles or amphibians. It’s important to keep them in a humid environment since they like moist conditions but not too wet; otherwise they may become stressed or sick.
Conservation Status of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders
Eastern red-back populations have decreased significantly over the past few decades due to habitat destruction caused by urbanization and logging activities in their range. However, scientists have noted that populations seem to be relatively stable in some regions where they are protected from human activities such as hunting or collecting them for sale as pets. Conservation plans aimed at protecting these species include limiting logging activities in their habitats as well as establishing dedicated protected areas where they can live undisturbed by humans.
The Breeding Habits of Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders
Eastern red-backed salamanders have some interesting breeding habits which make them unique compared to other amphibians. They breed during specific times of year and can lay anywhere between 8 to 12 eggs per clutch which require higher levels of humidity during incubation compared to other types of amphibians’ eggs. They also engage in cannibalism amongst members if there isn’t enough food available—so it’s important to make sure their environment has plenty of food sources if you plan on keeping them as pets!
When Do They Breed?
Eastern red-backed salamanders typically breed between February and April, depending on their location. As the weather warms up and the days become longer, they will migrate from their winter habitats to look for mates. On average, females will mate with multiple males, and each mating session can last up to two hours!
How Many Eggs Do Females Lay?
After mating, females will lay eggs in damp areas like wetlands or near streams. On average, a female can lay anywhere between 8 to 12 eggs per clutch. The eggs have soft shells which allow them to absorb more water than other types of amphibians’ eggs. This also means that they require more moisture when incubating—they need higher levels of humidity than other types of amphibians’ eggs.
What Happens After the Eggs Hatch?
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will stay in their aquatic habitat until they reach maturity—which usually takes about three months. During this time, they will feed on small insects and aquatic invertebrates like worms and snails until they are ready to leave the water for good. At this point, they are considered fully mature adults and can begin reproducing themselves!
Cannibalism Amongst the Species
One interesting fact about eastern red-backed salamanders is that cannibalism is not uncommon amongst members of this species. If there isn’t enough food available in an area where a group of salamanders is living then one or more members may consume another member as a source of nutrition—so it’s important to make sure there are plenty of food sources available if you plan on keeping them as pets!
The Diet of Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders
Eastern red-backed salamanders make excellent pets for terrariums due their gentle nature and interesting behaviours. When caring for these beautiful creatures, it is important to understand what kind of diet they require in order to remain healthy and happy.
What Do Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders Eat?
Eastern red-backed salamanders are insectivores, meaning they feed primarily on insects such as crickets, earthworms, mealworms, waxworms, beetles, and flies. They may also eat small amounts of fruits and vegetables as an occasional treat. It is important to note that their diet should not consist solely of insects; they need some variety in their meals in order to stay healthy.
Feeding Tips for Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders
When feeding your eastern red-backed salamander, it is important to understand that they are nocturnal animals and thus should be fed at night when they are most active. It is also important to make sure that all food items are fresh and free from pesticides or chemicals before offering them to your pet.
Finally, it is important to provide your salamander with a calcium supplement in order to prevent potential bone problems caused by dietary deficiencies.
Creating the Perfect Home for Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders
Creating the perfect home for an Eastern red-backed salamander requires careful consideration when it comes to temperature requirements, substrate selection and tank size. With these elements in place however you can rest assured knowing that your pet is safe and secure in its new home! Furthermore with proper care and maintenance Eastern red-backed salamanders can live up 10 years making them the perfect long term companion animal!
Temperature Requirements
Eastern red-backed salamanders prefer cool environments with temperatures between 50°F and 70°F. However, if you plan on keeping your salamander outdoors, they can tolerate temperatures as low as 32°F or as high as 81°F. Additionally, these amphibians require humidity levels of 70%-80%. To maintain consistent temperatures and humidity levels inside their terrariums or tanks, many owners opt to use a hygrometer and thermometer. This way they can ensure their pet remains comfortable at all times.
Substrate
When selecting a substrate for your Eastern red-backed salamanders home, it’s important that you choose something that is absorbent and won’t harm them if ingested. Popular substrates include coconut fiber bedding, sphagnum moss peat moss blend or bark chips. Substrates should also be kept moist but not soaking wet; this will help regulate humidity levels inside the tank as well as discourage fungi from growing in their habitat. Lastly, make sure to avoid using gravel or sand substrates; these are difficult to clean and may cause blockages if ingested by your salamander!
Tank Size
Ideally tank size should be at least five gallons per salamander—if possible larger tanks are even better! Tanks should also have tight fitting lids so that no other animals can get inside the tank (such as cats) and hurt your pet. Additionally, adding plants like ferns or artificial plants can help provide shade while also creating a more natural environment for your pet to explore. Lastly, don’t forget to include plenty of hiding places like rocks or driftwood—salamanders love exploring these areas!
Conclusion
The Eastern red-backed salamander is an amazing species with beautiful colours that has adapted to survive in a variety of habitats throughout eastern North America including deciduous forests and grassy areas near streams or rivers. Although their population numbers have declined over the years due to human activities like logging and urbanization there are still many conservation efforts underway aimed at protecting this species from further decline. If you’re looking for an interesting pet that loves exploring terrariums then the Eastern red-back might just be the perfect choice!