Spanish newt

Do you know anything about the Spanish newt? Originating from the Iberian Peninsula, this fascinating amphibian is a beautiful addition to any aquatic setup. The Spanish newt, or *Triturus marmoratus*, enthralls both novice and seasoned aquarium enthusiasts with its vivid colors and distinctive appearance.

The Spanish newt is distinguished from many other newts by its eye-catching marbled pattern. Its striking orange or yellow patches adorn its dark body, giving it a striking appearance. These patterns alert predators to the toxicity of your tank in addition to adding a pop of color. Despite their dragon-like appearance, these newts are generally calm and make excellent additions to community aquariums.

Although it takes some experience, taking care of a Spanish newt is doable if you’re ready. They like a well-planted tank where they can hide and explore, and they do best in cool, fresh water. Maintaining a steady water temperature and making sure there is ample room for them to swim and forage are essential components of creating the ideal habitat for them.

You can add a little bit of nature into your house by keeping a Spanish newt in your aquarium. They will stand out in any aquatic setup thanks to their striking appearance and reasonably simple maintenance needs. The Spanish newt is a great species to think about for your tank, regardless of your experience level with frogs.

An interesting and captivating addition to any aquarium setup is the Spanish newt, a fascinating amphibian. This species, which is well-known for its vivid colors and fascinating behaviors, not only improves the aesthetic appeal of a tank but also offers an insight into the varied world of amphibians. This post will discuss the natural habitat of the Spanish newt, how to take care of it, and how to set up your aquarium to provide the best conditions possible for the newt and your aquatic setup.

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-described spiny (ribbed) newt, Pleurodeles waltl, is most frequently sold under the signboard "Spanish newt."

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.

The following guidelines apply to maintaining a Spanish newt in an aquarium:

– A newt’s aquarium should have a capacity of at least 15 liters, but preferably more, particularly if the newt will be housed with other relatives or close to fish. Given that the newtons are amphibians and occasionally go to land, it is essential to outfit one or more islands.

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

Additionally, the endless selection of REPTI-ZOO products in the attached catalog will assist you in setting up an aquarium. You can find everything you need for newts, including soil, islands, plants, heating pads, lamps, and more. It is recommended that you download the vast catalog to your computer, as it loads within 2 to 5 seconds.

– Spanish newt water temperature; tritons are cold-water animals. Their content requires water that is between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the aquarium’s water must cool to a temperature of 5-8 degrees during the wintering season if you wish to bring the living conditions of triton as closely as possible to those found in nature. As a result, consider how the aquarium’s water will cool beforehand.

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

Spanish newt image

– Newt-friendly soil. Soil is a very important problem. Recall that you must select a portion of the soil such that individual particles are prevented from entering the newt’s mouth. If not, the pet may accidentally ingest the dirt, which will probably cause an intestinal blockage and result in death.

Triton’s plants. Using live plants is preferable because they enhance the natural appearance and biological diversity of your aquarium. They are also essential to the nitrogen cycle in aquariums, and if you plan to breed newts, you will need live plants because the female lays her eggs in them, tucks in the leaves to protect the young, and the young newts 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 range from 15% to 30% per week, depending on the source. 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.

Reproduction of the Spanish newt in an aquarium

Here, I want 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 the Spanish newt

Being predators, Spanish newts will gladly consume small live fish, crickets, earthworms, common newts, and other small animals. Juvenile newts will also do well on frozen bloodworms. If you are unable to provide your pet with live food for any reason, try giving them pieces of lean fish like shrimp, haddock, or cod. Felines are fed daily, while adults are fed two to three times a week. It is also advised to occasionally administer calcium and vitamin supplements. Crushed eggshells can be used in place of calcium supplements, but it is best to prioritize the pet’s health.

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 water 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?

Keeping a Spanish newt together with fish

Spanish newt image

Fish and Spanish newt keeping presents a number of issues, as this article above has already mentioned:

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 to spend the winter in because no tropical fish can survive temperatures below +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. Given that it can withstand cold water well and that it will not fit into its mouth no matter how hard you try, a large goldfish can make an excellent neighbor for a newt. However, keep in mind that a large goldfish needs an entirely different volume and level of filtration in their aquarium.

In conclusion, adding a Spanish newt to an aquarium is a fascinating idea. For enthusiasts wishing to add some variety to their aquatic setups, it is an excellent option due to its remarkable appearance and distinct behaviors. These newts need particular attention to stay healthy and lively, and they do best in well-kept habitats. Your Spanish newt will thrive and turn into an eye-catching feature in your aquarium if you give it the proper environment and food.

Recall that although Spanish newts require little upkeep, they do have certain requirements. For their wellbeing, it’s imperative to maintain the ideal pH, temperature, and habitat conditions in the water. Maintaining optimal health and avoiding potential problems can be achieved through consistent observation and modification of your newt.

In general, adding a Spanish newt to your aquarium will help you create a dynamic and well-balanced ecosystem in addition to improving its aesthetic appeal. These unusual animals may add a little bit of the wild to your house with the correct upkeep, and you can spend hours watching them interact and behave. Take pleasure in the process of becoming knowledgeable about and tending to your Spanish newt; it will enhance the life in your aquarium.

Video on the topic

Spanish newt. Diseases of aquarium fish.

Spanish newt Bosca Keeping in an aquarium and terrarium What to feed and breeding newt

Spanish newt

Spanish spiny newt. Pleurodeles waltl.

Aquarium newts! Conditions of keeping, feeding, compatibility with fish in an aquarium!