Everything you need to know about a pet newt

Fascinating amphibians, newts can make unusual and fulfilling pets. Both inexperienced and seasoned pet owners are enthralled with their vivid colors and intriguing behaviors. Knowing what a newt needs is crucial, whether you’re planning to add one to your aquarium or you just want to learn more about these interesting animals.

A newt requires particular care to be kept as a pet, including proper diet and habitat setup. The ideal conditions for these tiny amphibians are those that closely resemble their native habitats, so it’s critical to monitor factors like humidity, temperature, and water quality.

You can learn all you need to know about taking care of a pet newt from this guide. You’ll find helpful pointers and advice to get you started, from selecting the appropriate species to making sure your new amphibian buddy has a happy and healthy life.

Common newt: who is it?

The amphibian animal known as a newt is a member of the salamander class. Carl Linnaeus was a zoologist and botanist who first described Lissotriton vulgaris, also known as the common newt. It is thought that this subspecies is the most common on the earth. Triton, a Greek god, is the name of the animal.

Habitat

The newt serves as a bridge between reptiles and amphibians. "Is the animal an amphibian or a reptile?" is a common query. Given that the newt spends the majority of its time in water, option one is accurate.

Natural habitat includes puddles, ponds, ditches, reservoirs, and swampy forests. The amphibian tries to stay away from open areas because they can easily become prey.

Mountain streams, which are found more than 2000 meters above sea level, are home to certain subspecies.

Appearance and structure

On the outside, newts look like lizards. Skin can be slightly rough or smooth. The back and tail regions have an olive or brown color scheme. The color of the abdomen is paler. Shades of orange or yellow are present.

There are distinctly visible dark patches on the amphibian’s body, which narrow into stripes near the head.

The creature is four-pawed. There are three to four fingers on the front and five on the back. Because of its well-developed paws, the amphibian can swim through the water without any issues. When walking on land, the gait is clumsy and unnatural.

The sense of smell is not as developed as the sense of vision. Hundreds of meters away, newts can detect the scent of their prey.

Predators are newts. Bloodworms, earthworms, and small fish make up their primary diet. Such cuisine implies the existence of pointed teeth. They are found in two rows and have a conical shape in newts.

Features of the common newt’s exterior:

• compact size;
• smooth or slightly granular skin;
• strong, well-developed limbs;
• sharpening of teeth to the cutting part.

It can be difficult to identify an amphibian’s sex. The mating season is the most convenient time to do this. The female turns a significantly brighter color. Additionally, males develop a comb that eventually falls out.

Because it spends the majority of its life in the water, newts have the following body structures:

1. The ability to breathe with both lungs and gills.
2. Additional gas exchange occurs through the skin.
3. The presence of a three-chambered heart and blood vessels, which leads to the formation of two circulatory circles and mixed blood. This feature allows the animal to quickly adapt to the ambient temperature.

Behavior in an aquarium and in the wild

Amphibians are primarily nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat. In the summer, when the thermometers reach their upper limits, this is particularly apparent.

The animal is only visible during the day when it is raining. when a comfortable temperature is reached. However, the newt in an aquarium is active all day long.

The amphibian hibernates in the wild in November or early December. Anabiosis continues until the air temperature reaches a comfortable positive level.

Life cycle of a newt

In the wild, a newt’s lifespan is roughly 14 years. The primary adversaries of amphibians include large fish, birds, snakes, and frogs.

The amphibian is regarded as dangerous by many animals despite its small size. The amphibian’s skin is poisonous, and an attack will instantly kill the attacker. There is no risk to humans from the lizard.

The animal survives to a respectable age in captivity. Age range: 18–20 years on average. There are instances where newts in aquariums can live for 26–28 years if given the right care.

It is simple to take care of common newts. A large aquarium is one of the prerequisites. A minimum 20-liter capacity is required for one person.

How equip an aquarium?

The majority of a newt’s life is spent in the water. You must outfit the aquarium appropriately if you want maintenance on them to be comfortable.

1. Fill the aquarium with purified water without chlorine and other impurities. To achieve this result, you need to use special filters.
2. Partially change the water (about 20% of the total volume) once a week. A complete replacement is necessary once a month.
3. When kept in a school. For normal existence in the aquarium, 4 newts will be enough. Among them there should be several females and one male. In this case, there will be no competition and fights.
4. Amphibians do not like the sun. Therefore, the aquarium should be located in the shade, so that there is no access to direct sunlight.
5. It is better to sprinkle the bottom of the aquarium with coarse soil. Stones and large shells are acceptable. But sand is prohibited. The animal can easily swallow it, which will cause health problems.
6. You should not fill the aquarium to the top, because in the natural environment the animal lives in reservoirs at a depth of 10 to 50 cm.
7. There should be small "islands" in the aquarium. These can be driftwood, moss, twigs. The newt should be able to climb on them and breathe air.
8. A prerequisite is a place for privacy. Stones with small holes, a grotto, etc. are suitable for these purposes..
9. The aquarium must be filled with vegetation. These can be algae, moss, small leaves. The greenery will not only act as a beautiful decor. It is necessary for the female during spawning.
10. In order for the animal to have enough light, an ultraviolet or fluorescent lamp will be needed. At the same time, the device should not heat the water.

Sea lizards dislike temperatures above +22 degrees Celsius in the water. They find that temperatures between +17 and +20 are comfortable. In the summer, you should submerge a bottle of ice into the aquarium if the water becomes warmer. This will not only help the amphibian feel better, but it will also keep fungus from growing and infecting the aquarium.

It is important to give the amphibian extra care while it is getting ready for anabiosis. It is required to artificially shorten the daylight hours and drop the water’s temperature by five to eleven degrees between October and November. The newt spends five to six months hibernating. In the absence of these tricks, the animal will always be awake.

Feeding

Amphibians don’t have dietary preferences. Their diet is based on:

• feed insects;
• dried shrimp;
• pieces of lean fish;
• mollusks;
• butterfly caterpillars;
• earthworms.

Specialized food for frogs can be purchased from specialized stores and fed to them.

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Animals at home follow the following eating schedule:

1. Larvae. 1 time in 2 days. The main food is mosquito eggs, daphnia.
2. Young individuals – you need to give food once a day.
3. Adult newts eat once in 2 days.

When an animal reaches maturity, feeding becomes a true game. Owners ought to mimic how food is moved. Using tweezers is the simplest way to accomplish this. An adult will not be interested in stationary food.

Newt health

In their natural habitat, newts are in good health. Inadequate care of aquarium animals can lead to problems. Typical illnesses consist of:

Saprolegniosis

The animal hibernates early and becomes inactive. A characteristic symptom is the development of a sticky coating on the skin. Tissue deterioration is the cause of this.

Mukoroz

This kind of infection is caused by fungi. The skin has visible spots.

Anorexia

The amphibian stops growing in addition to losing weight. Severe stress may be the cause of this illness.

"Red leg"

The skin and paws get cut and bruised.

Intestinal obstruction

There shouldn’t be any tiny objects in the aquarium that the newt could ingest in order to prevent this illness (sand, small stones, etc.).

You need to get in touch with a veterinarian right away if your pet starts experiencing health issues.

Compatibility with other inhabitants

Newts are thought to be fairly peaceful creatures, even though they are predators. Nonetheless, there are still certain limitations regarding fish compatibility. Not Allowed:

• small fish;
• frogs;
• small snails (physa).

Fish with average body sizes and a comfort level in cool water, such as danios, cardinals, and guppies, would make excellent neighbors for amphibians.

A pet newt brings a special blend of charm and low-maintenance care to your aquarium, making it an intriguing addition. Everything you need to know is covered in this article, including how to choose the best species, create the perfect habitat, and take care of your newt’s health and well-being. Knowing these fundamentals will enable you to provide a secure and cozy habitat for your new amphibian buddy, regardless of your level of experience.

Types of newt that are acceptable for breeding in an aquarium

Apart from the common newt, several other species can be raised in aquariums for breeding purposes:

Alpine

Regarded as one of the most exquisite. Their ability to alter the skin’s texture makes them special. The skin is glossy and smooth in the water, but noticeably grainy on land. You need a terrarium in addition to an aquarium for homekeeping.

Filamentous

The primary characteristic is the small body size (up to 9 cm). The color of a leopard, with tiny dots. Prohibited in many EU countries for keeping at home.

Marbled

The brightest-colored newt. For keeping, a terrarium with a tiny pond is necessary.

Crocodile

Has a distinct ridge in the back and an unusual black-brown color. prefers to be on land for the majority of its time.

Danube

Enlisted in the Ukrainian Red Book. One characteristic that sets it apart is its long, 11–12 cm body.

White Spanish

It’s all white in color. The maximum length of the body is 30 cm.

Iranian

This species’ color is similar to that of a Dalmatian. Spots of white and black cover the entire body. This particular kind of amphibian enjoys being in the water. It must therefore be kept in an aquarium that holds at least 30 liters.

Carpathian

This species’ body is shaped like a quadrangle, and it lacks a dorsal ridge.

Eastern fire-bellied newt

Dwarf newt or Chinese newt is another name for it. The body length of a triton is no more than 9–14 cm. The lower portion of the muzzle, tail, and abdomen are painted bright red with black markings.

The kind and age of the animal determine the cost of tritons. can range from 2,000 to 12,000 rubles.

Propagation

Amphibians reproduce when spring arrives. The female chooses the reservoir or aquarium where the male deposits his seed, or spermatofor.

The female mosque caviar is left in the leaves of plants and algae after mating. One month is the incubation period. Larvae are born after that and are likewise concealed within plants.

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In ideal circumstances, they will transform into an adult person for a duration of 25-30 days.

Reviews of the owners

Became the fortunate owner of an ordinary Titon. I can affirm that taking care of amphibians is quite easy. The most important thing is to make sure they are fed at least once every two days and that the aquarium’s water is changed on a regular basis to prevent blooming.

Our family welcomed the newt approximately six months ago. Observing the animal is fascinating, particularly when it scales a thorn to get some dryness. Elena, fifty-six

Future frog owners should remember to shut off their aquariums. The newt moves its legs deftly even though they are not very developed. I was taken aback to discover a pet on the floor of the adjacent room.

Our Spanish newt is now a true aquarium decoration. For the past three years, this white marvel has brought us joy. All I can say is that it’s an interesting, unique animal that enjoys standing on its tail. Minus: Several tiny neon fish were absent after it made an appearance in the aquarium. It was then decided to purchase larger goldfish. In comparison, the white newt appears particularly significant and joyous. Petr88

I received the sea lizards from my friends. Later on, it was discovered that these were two men. Taking care of animals is not hard. The purchase of a 60-liter aquarium was the largest outlay. I buy them bloodworms and special food about every six months. They never consume any other food. They are more active at night and don’t make any noise. Igor

Are you sick of the aquarium’s fish? Don’t be reluctant to acquire newts then. They have an appearance similar to a tiny lizard, and my child claimed that they are actual sea dragons from fairy tales. Occasionally, the body of our marbled newt takes on new hues. enjoys spending hours watching what’s going on in the room while perched on a stone. doesn’t linger in the water for very long. Anya

Conclusion

The smallest member of this amphibian species is the common newt. The animal is special because it can survive on land as well as in the water. It serves a crucial role in nature by eliminating mosquito larvae, which controls the population of the insects.

As a pet, newt is perfect. It’s something even a child can handle. A large aquarium (some species require a terrarium), the proper food, and clean water are essential for successful keeping.

The animal should be contacted by a veterinarian right away if it stops eating, has dull skin, or develops wounds.

Keep in mind that newts are small predators, so make sure the aquarium is free of any other small creatures that could serve as easy pickings.

Your pet will bring you joy for many years if you give it love and care.

Aspect	Details
Habitat	Newts need a tank with both water and land areas to thrive.
Diet	Feed them a mix of live or frozen food like worms and brine shrimp.
Tank Setup	Include plants, rocks, and hiding spots; keep water clean and well-filtered.
Temperature	Maintain water temperature between 60-70°F (16-21°C).
Lifespan	With proper care, newts can live up to 10-15 years.

If you’re ready to provide for the unique requirements of your pet newt, keeping one can be a fulfilling experience. To flourish in captivity, these amazing animals need a healthy diet, regular care, and an attractive environment.

It’s crucial to recognize the special qualities of newts, such as their sensitive skin and aquatic lifestyle, in order to give them a healthy home. You can enjoy having a newt in your house for many years if you set it up correctly and pay attention to details.

Taking the time to educate yourself about newts will benefit you whether you’re a novice or an experienced amphibian enthusiast when it comes to setting up a cozy and stimulating environment for your new pet. Your newt can bring a little bit of nature into your daily life and stay happy and healthy if you adhere to the instructions and suggestions given.

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