Newts in an aquarium

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With their vivid colors and unique behavior, newts can add a unique charm to an aquarium, making them fascinating additions. Because they are amphibians rather than fish, newts are a great option for anyone wishing to add a unique dynamic to their aquatic setup because they can live both in and out of the water. They soon emerge as the tank’s main attraction thanks to their graceful movements and alluring presence.

To maintain the health and happiness of newts, certain special considerations must be made when keeping them in aquariums. They require an area that is kept up to date and resembles their natural habitat, complete with access to land, clean water, and hiding places. To give these amazing animals the proper care and build a happy home, it is essential to comprehend their needs.

Because they combine aquatic and terrestrial behavior, newts can be an interesting and distinctive addition to any aquarium. They also add variety to a standard tank setup. They need special attention, such as the proper water parameters, a diet that suits them, and a habitat that has both land and water areas to replicate their natural habitat. Comprehending these requirements is crucial to maintaining the well-being and health of newts in your aquarium, rendering them an enjoyable option for enthusiasts seeking to venture beyond conventional fish.

Common newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

Typical newt picture

The Red Book of Russia lists the common newt as a member of the small newt genus. sizes ranging from 7 to 11 centimeters, olive to brown body color, and light orange or yellowish abdomen. Males and females typically exhibit weaker sexual differences, with males being slightly larger than females. Males develop a comb during the mating season, which is when they become distinguishable. The following are the requirements for preserving it in an aquarium:

– A newt’s aquarium should have a capacity of at least 15 liters, but obviously larger is preferable, particularly if the newt will be kept with other relatives or close to fish. Since newts are amphibians and occasionally venture onto land, it is imperative to set up one or more islands.

A unique terrarium might be the best choice. ReptoAquaSet Tetra.

A newt aquarium

Additionally, the endless supply of REPTI-ZOO products in the attached catalog will assist you in setting up the aquarium. You’ll find everything you need for newts, including soil, islands, plants, heaters, lamps, and more. The vast catalog loads in a mere 2 to 5 seconds; downloading it to your PC is highly recommended.

– Newt’s water temperature. Newts are animals found in cold water. For their upkeep, water must be between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. The water in the aquarium must be cooled to 5-8 degrees in order to prepare the wintering period and bring the newt’s living conditions as close to nature as possible. As a result, consider cooling the aquarium’s water beforehand.

– Acidity. Newts can survive in both acidic (5.5) and nearly alkaline (7.8) water, so their pH range is fairly broad. However, it’s important to keep in mind that, similar to keeping fish, the unacceptable range of values and the stability of the indicator are more crucial. Any living thing has a very low tolerance for sudden pH changes.

– Hardness of water for newts. They favor water with a dH range of 5 to 15, either soft or medium-hard.

A newt’s lighting system. While lighting is not a critical concern for the newts per se, it is necessary for the aquarium’s vegetation. Keep in mind that the lamp needs to be placed such that it doesn’t heat the water when planning the lighting for the newts’ future home!

Typical newt picture

– Newt-friendly soil. Soil is a very important problem. Recall that you must select a portion of the soil such that individual particles are unable to pass through a newt’s mouth. If not, the pet may inadvertently ingest soil, which could cause intestinal blockage and ultimately result in death.

– Newt plants. Using live plants is preferable because they enhance the natural appearance and biological diversity of your aquarium. They also aid in the nitrogen cycle within the aquarium, which is crucial if you plan to breed newts. The female lays her eggs in the plants, tucking the leaves in to protect the developing young, which hide in dense thickets.

– The filter. Here, the advice for keeping fish and newts in an aquarium is similar: the filter needs to pump the aquarium’s contents six to ten times an hour.

– Water fluctuates. Recommendations for water changes vary depending on the source, ranging from 15% to 30% each week. In this instance, we believe it is appropriate to use the average value of 20% and concentrate on the distinct features of your aquarium.

In the event that the pet escapes into the "big world," a cover glass is necessary.

Breeding newts in an aquarium

Here, I would like to call attention to the fact that newts typically breed in the spring, meaning that they must overwinter in order to reproduce. Furthermore, as was already mentioned, live plants are required.

Feeding newts in an aquarium

Supplying newts with food

Being predators, newts will gladly consume small live fish, crickets, earthworms, common newts, and other small species. Young newts will also readily consume frozen bloodworms. If you are unable to provide your pet with live food for any reason, consider giving them pieces of lean fish, such as shrimp, haddock, or cod. Felines are fed daily, while adults are fed two to three times a week. Additionally, it is advised to occasionally administer calcium and vitamin supplements. Crushed eggshells can be used in place of calcium preparations, but it is best to avoid doing so at the expense of the pet’s health.

Tetra’s food for newts

It is advised to add freeze-dried food from reputable brands to a newt’s diet in addition to live food. They are simple to use and provide all the nutrients your pet needs. Tetra ReptoFrog Granules, a complete diet for aquatic frogs and newts, is one of the best foods.

Moulting of newts

Molts are possible for newts. Amphibians consume the old skin after molting, which makes sense: why should nutrients be wasted?

A picture of newts with fish

Keeping a newt with fish presents a number of issues, some of which have already been covered in the previous article:

Since most tropical aquarium fish prefer warm water, and newts are cold-water fish, you will need to set up a separate aquarium for the newt during the winter months as no tropical fish can survive at +6. Neons do best at a temperature of +22, but there’s another issue here.

Predators are newts. Neons are also a great "Amazon snack" for them. For example, a large goldfish can get along well with a newt since it can withstand cold water and will not fit into your mouth no matter how hard you try. However, keep in mind that big goldfish need an entirely different aquarium volume and filtration capacity.

Tritons diseases in the aquarium

Tyton, like fish, unfortunately, sometimes get sick. They can be affected by both fungal (most often saprolegniosis and mucorosis), as well as parasitic and infectious diseases. Frequent and dangerous infectious disease of newtons is the so -called “red leg”, in fact, this is sepsis, and it is called a red foot, because one of the symptoms is hemorrhages under the skin of the abdomen and upper paws, from which they acquire color from pink to Bright red color. From other symptoms there can also be wounds on the skin, if the triton is chosen from the water and dries a little, then around the wounds you can see black border, lethargy, up to complete apathy, refusal to eat.

The disease requires immediate treatment: if a sick newt lives with its relatives, it must be isolated in a quarantine container, since the disease is contagious. Next, it is best to find a veterinary laboratory that can do tests to understand which pathogen is responsible for the occurrence of sepsis in a particular case, so as not to poison the newt with an antibiotic to which the microbes may be insensitive. If there is no possibility to do the analysis, then there is no other way – the antibiotic will have to be selected empirically (by trial and error): almost all antibiotics from the human medicine cabinet can be used in treatment, but most often tetracycline is used, at a dose of 50 mg / kg of the animal"s weight orally with food, aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin) at 20 mg / kg of weight or metronidazole (Trichopolum) at a dose of 50-100 mg / kg for 5-7 days. There are also more complex methods – the introduction of a solution of chlorafenicol into the stomach of an amphibian through a tube. The dosage is as follows: the first administration of 8 mg of the drug in 2 ml of water, then for 6 days the administration of 4 mg of the drug in 1 ml of water, and then prophylactic administration of a similar dose of chlorafenicol once a week for several weeks. It is possible to use medicinal baths, 15 ml of sulfadimidin solution per 10 liters of water. The duration of the bath is 1 hour, baths are held for two weeks. In the case of an epidemic, complete disinfection and restart of the aquarium is necessary.

Tygon Titon, aka Ribbine Triton

Ribbed picture of Triton Iltery

The Iglystry Tyton’s conditions of content are not all that different from the typical, but keep in mind that the Waltl pleurodeles are considerably larger—up to 23 centimeters—and thus require a larger aquarium. This species’ females typically have shorter tails but are larger overall.

Ribbed picture of Triton Iltery

It should be remembered that when these kinds of contents are present, the pointed ends of the ribs on their sides may release a toxic or extremely burning substance if they are dangerous. It is best to avoid touching the ribbed newt with bare hands as it can cause skin damage and allergic reactions that can be fatal in certain cases.

Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)

Picture of a Great Crested Newt

The three newts that have been described are about this size on average; they can reach a maximum length of 18 cm, have brown to black bodies, and have an orange abdomen. The comb is very similar to that of the common newt. The common newt has a solid comb, but the great crested newt has an intermittent one.

Picture of a Great Crested Newt

This newt has poison glands on its skin, and the poison’s effects are comparable to those of a spiny newt.

Spanish newt and confusion

Spanish newt image

In Russia, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the Spanish newt. The truth is that different species are marketed as Spanish newts throughout the post-Soviet sphere. The above-mentioned spiny (ribbed) newt Pleurodeles waltl is the one that is most frequently sold under the name "Spanish newt."

Spanish newt image

The true Spanish newt, Lissotriton boscai, is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal. It is also protected by Spanish law and is not found in our region at all. As such, it is included in the Berne Convention.

All of the above is just the result of observing this type of amphibians and collecting various information from owners and breeders. We would like to share with visitors not only information, but also live emotions, allowing you to more fully and subtly penetrate the world of aquaristics. Register at https://fanfishka.ru/forum/, participate in discussions on the forum, create specialized topics where you will tell about your pets in the first person and from the first mouth, describe their habits, behavioral features and maintenance, share with us your successes and joys, share experience and adopt the experience of others. We are interested in every bit of your experience, every second of your joy, every awareness of a mistake, giving your comrades the opportunity to avoid the same mistake. The more of us, the more pure and transparent drops of goodness in the life and everyday life of our seven-billion society.

Mikhail Okatiev Astario is the article’s author.

Aspect Description
Species Common types of newts for aquariums include the Eastern Newt and the Smooth Newt.
Habitat Newts need a well-planted aquarium with both water and land areas. They thrive in a setup that mimics their natural habitat.
Tank Size A minimum of 20 gallons is recommended to provide adequate space for both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Water Conditions Maintain cool water temperatures (60-70°F or 15-21°C) and ensure water is clean and well-filtered.
Diet Newts eat a diet of live or frozen foods like worms, small insects, and crustaceans.
Behavior Newts are generally peaceful but may become territorial. Provide plenty of hiding spots and space to reduce stress.
Care Tips Regularly clean the tank and monitor water quality. Avoid using harsh chemicals or strong currents in the tank.

A fascinating addition to your aquarium, newts can give your aquatic setup a special charm and personality. Aquarium enthusiasts can enjoy their vivid colors and unique behaviors for a lifetime. To ensure that newts flourish in their surroundings, however, proper attention to their unique needs is necessary when providing for them.

Establishing a suitable environment is essential. To replicate their natural habitat, newts require an aquarium that is well-balanced and has both aquatic and terrestrial sections. Your newts will feel more at home if the water is the proper temperature and has a combination of land and water. Moreover, remember to incorporate hiding places and light filtration to keep the atmosphere hygienic.

One more important part of caring for your newts is feeding them. To keep them healthy and active, they should have a varied diet that includes frozen or live foods. Their wellbeing can be ensured by keeping an eye on their feeding patterns and making necessary dietary adjustments.

Newts can add a captivating element to your aquarium with the correct setup and maintenance. Their presence creates interest and diversity, transforming your aquarium from a fish habitat into a thriving ecosystem that is home to a wide range of organisms. As they grow to be a treasured part of your aquatic world, take pleasure in the unusual beauty and behavior of these amazing creatures.

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Elena Grishina

Ecologist and aquarist with a special interest in creating balanced ecosystems in aquariums. Main focus — ecosystems that require minimal human intervention. I support a natural approach to aquarium care, where each element plays its role, helping to maintain harmony in a closed ecosystem. I promote sustainable aquarium keeping and respect for nature.

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