Amazingly, the Olm finds it only necessary to eat occasionally as it can survive for up to ten years without eating anything. When it does become hungry and is in the good fortune of having some food available, the Olm will feast on other small invertebrates. This includes:
While living so deep underwater does decrease the amount of predators an animal can have, the Olm is not completely safe. Larger fish, disease from unhealthy bacteria, and sometimes even rodents threaten their lives. Maybe the biggest threat posed to the Olm is, predictably, mankind itself. Olms have a very difficult time adapting to changes in water temperature, therefore making pollution a big problem for the creatures. Just a slight increase in the coolness or heat of the Olms habitat can kill them altogether. The ability to live for years without eating aside, Olms are still highly susceptible to death.
- snails
- worms
- larvae
- aquatic insects
While living so deep underwater does decrease the amount of predators an animal can have, the Olm is not completely safe. Larger fish, disease from unhealthy bacteria, and sometimes even rodents threaten their lives. Maybe the biggest threat posed to the Olm is, predictably, mankind itself. Olms have a very difficult time adapting to changes in water temperature, therefore making pollution a big problem for the creatures. Just a slight increase in the coolness or heat of the Olms habitat can kill them altogether. The ability to live for years without eating aside, Olms are still highly susceptible to death.