Aquatic newts are remarkably amusing and very easy to maintain. They are relatively active for an ectotherm, long-lived, very personable, eagerly accept pelleted foods, and can be kept in something as simple as a critter keeper with a few inches of dechlorinated water and a place to hide. For many, they are the ideal pet.
Steps
1
Make sure you have your newt's enclosure all set up before you head out to purchase one. A ten gallon tank is a good choice; your newt will fit perfectly in it as an adult. The species usually found in pet stores, Cynops pyrrhogaster, will max out at about 4-5 inches so you will not need to upgrade to a larger size enclosure.
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- The ideal ratio of water to land is three to one. Your newt will need enough land area to completly come out onto. You can slope rocks up towards one edge to create an island or place a large rock in.
- You do not need a heater- most newts prefer cooler water (50-70F)but do not keep them close to a window (especially in the winter) or in a drafty place.
- You do not need a filter, but you can use one if you like. If you decide to use a filter, try to find one that can be fully submerged and try to get the smallest size you can so the current won't be too strong. Keep it turned on for 24 hours before you introduce the newt so you can make sure it is functioning properly. If you use a filter that pours water out the top and hangs on the side of the aquarium, you'll need to put some sort of water-break underneath it so the water will trickle onto your newt rather than cascade. A plant or tall rock will work well. You don't need to run it 24-7; a few hours a day will suffice to keep the water clear. Even with a filter, you will still need to do water changes. Try somewhere between every 2 to 3 weeks. Keep adjusting it until you find what works best for your situation.
- If you do not use a filter, change 25% of the water every week. Siphon out water from the bottom of the tank. If the surface of the water ever looks cloudy or filmy, just the surface, this is nothing at all to worry about. If you have to take your newt out of the aquaruim, make sure you place him in a container with a secure lid (so he doesn't escape). Replace the same amount of water that you took out with dechlorinated water.
- You will need a lid for your aquarium. Newts are escape artists and will crawl out of any crack they can find.
- The most important decoration you can give your newt is a secure place to hide. The neon fish houses that large variety stores sell for two dollars or so work perfectly for a newt to curl up in. The shape that works best kind of looks like a lowercase m. It doesn't really matter what you use, but you'll want to use a small cave or rock or piece of wood that your newt can hide in or underneath to feel safe. Never use anything you found outdoors; always use something that is safe for aquariums. Most newts also enjoy having either fake or live plants to climb on (they are totally carnivorous so if you choose live plants, they will be perfectly safe), rocks or gravel to dig in. Make sure everything you put in the tank is stable enough so if your newt decides to dig, nothing will topple over and crush it to death.
- A thermometer also isn't necessary but is always a good idea.
2
Buy your newt. - Make sure you are buying from a reputable place and of course do not ever purchase a newt from a cage where one or more lay dead.
- Pick one that is alert and exhibits no wounds or obvious signs of disease. When it walks or swims, it should move smoothly and with grace.
- Check for two clear eyes, four digits on each foot, and a smooth back and tail with no nips out of it. Watch tanks to ensure getting a healthy animal.
3
Take your newt straight home. Don't add the water from the pet store into your tank. Use a net or your hands (if you use your hands, make sure to wash them well with soap first and rinse them extremely well. Also, never grab a newt by the tail; try to lift it underneath its belly with a cupped hand instead.) to scoop your newt out of the bag and into his new home.4
Know how to handle your newt. Most people will tell you that you should never handle a newt with your hands. It is not without risk, but it can be accomplished safely. Newts do produce toxins in their skin that could harm you and the simplest way to avoid this is to wash your hands well with soap before you handle them. Rinse your hands until all traces of soap are gone. Keep your hands slightly wet when your newt is on them and when your friend's skin feels sticky to the touch (normally after 5 minutes or so), return him to his tank and wash your hands again well. Never eat food from your hands or touch your face after handling any salamander/newt without washing your hands and insist on others you allow the privilege of handling your salamander/newt do the same. This will ensure that you do not get sick from your newt and in turn, it will remain healthy. Amphibians have very porous skin and any harmful chemicals on your skin will be transmitted to your pet. Additionally, it is not normally a good idea to handle your newt while standing, unless your hands are over its tank. Sometimes newts will jump or wiggle unexpectedly and a fall to the ground can be disastrous.5
Feeding your newt. The staple of newts' diet consists of pellets designed for newts and salamanders. The best food for most newts and salamanders are leaf worms, red wigglers/ pan worms, or chopped nightcrawlers. A newt pellet can be stuffed in a chopped nightcrawler section. Other foods include white worms, black worms, thawed tubifex worms, thawed or live bloodworms, (daphnias, flightless fruit flies, and pinhead crickets, which can all be purchased online if the newt or salamander is very small), phoenix worms, mealworms, crickets, and occasionally wax worms. Larger prey may be given if it is a large salamander. They also enjoy the occasional pinch of freeze dried bloodworms or a small live fish. You will probably want to quarantine the fish for at least a couple weeks in a separate container to make sure it does not have a disease it can give your newt or salamander. Also, make sure it is not too big. There is a picture on www.caudata.org of a salamander that took on a fish that was too large, and the fish's bones were sticking out of the salamander's chin and neck area. The picture is in the "Species Mixing Disasters" area of the site.6
Vary the amounts at first to see what works best. If this proves problematic, err on the side of keeping it a bit underfed rather than overfed. Sometimes newts will go off feed for a week or two. This normally occurs when they molt. You probably will not notice your newt molting at first because the shed skin is only as thick as the width of a single skin cell, is rather transparent, and most newts will eat their skin right after it comes off- this is perfectly normal.
