The Largest Newt As a Pet

What are they?

Have you heard of newts? Do you know what they are? If you haven’t, it is quite all right since they are not so known well-known. They are much like salamanders; in fact, the newt is an amphibian with awesome properties: just like in science fiction movies, where the characters seem to never die and always regenerate, the same way the newt is capable of regenerating basically every part of his body – whereas a lizard can only regenerate its tail. Therefore legs, eyes, heart, intestines, and jaws you name it, the moment a part of its body is lost, it simply grows back again! Isn’t that an amazing creature! If only people had this property, doctors would have to look for other jobs, but unfortunately… it only works for newts.

Concerning the newts’ types at hand in the pet shops, these differ from continent to continent, so there will be a certain newt type in U.S.A. but another in Europe and a different one in Asia and so on.
The largest newt in the world is the Sharp Ribbed Newt also named the Rough Spanish Newt, Spanish Ribbed Newt, Iberian Ribbed Newt or Sharp Ribbed Salamander while its scientific name is Pleurodeles waltl.

Its length is ranges between 15-30 cm and can be found in Central and Southern Iberia as well as Morocco. On their back you can see the darker blotches against an olive green, brownish color of their skin. They have yellow-orange warts marking the tips of each rib and their belly is colored lighter in yellow and gray.

Due to their size, they need enough room in their aquarium, therefore it should be large enough, approximately 21-22 gallons for 3 to 4 adults.

To make your newt feel best, make sure you add a base substrate of sand along with some large pebbles and don’t forget about some privacy…yes your newts need some hiding places that’s why you should position the aquatic plants in the right way, to provide them with these hiding spots.

The water you put in the tank must be clean spring water or de-chlorinated water. Not all newts like swimming all day long, therefore some species prefer "dry land by the pool", but when it comes to the largest newts, they enjoy water so a totally aquatic environment works perfectly for them, that is of course when you also include some islands usually represented by a few pieces of cork. They need something to climb on for a breath of fresh air.

Coming back to water, 20cm (8") water height will be enough for your pet but along with it you need to keep in mind that bacteria and ammonia might built up in the tank. That’s why a submersible power filter is needed to avoid such buildup which can seriously harm your pet, even to the point of killing it.

The water temperature should ideally be maintained at 22°C ensuring an optimum level of comfort for your newts. Another recommendation is to provide the aquarium with an air-stone; this will oxygenate the water, constantly refreshing the oxygen level in the tank. For the light source, a low wattage fluorescent tube is recommended.

Right so to sum up, your 22 gallon tank has to contain the following: send, pebbles and plants for the bottom, or should I say, see bed; a few floating islands, a submersible power filter, an air-stone and a low wattage fluorescent tube. Don’t forget the fresh spring water or de-chlorinated water.

How to feed them?

For the youngsters, that is juvenile newts, they need food every day and that consists of Tubiform, insects and white worm. I am saying that you have to feed them daily – which one might say that it goes without saying- because some newts species have to be fed only every third day! Not that difficult for a busy pet owner, right? However, coming back to the largest of them, Sharp Ribbed Newts, the adults only need to be fed every other day. Sharp Ribbed Newts’ food is a mixture of earthworms, maggots, slugs, pellets. You can also feed them with Tubifex, shrimp and even small fish.

No plants should be included in your newt’s diet. Its stomach does not digest those; therefore they will threat your pet’s life. So no plants for your newt!