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Care Sheet: Alpine Newts (Mesotriton alpestris)

Common Name: Alpine Newt.

Scientific Name: Mesotriton alpestris.

Distribution: Found in cold ponds, streams & lakes in central Europe. Ranging from the western coasts of France & the Netherlands, east into Russia & the Balkans, and South into northern Italy.

Size: 8-12cm (3-5").

Sexing: The easiest way of sexing an Alpine Newt is to compare the colouration of their ventral surface, in females the underside is a light yellow where as in males it develops as a deep orange. The males are also the more slender sex, and during breeding season develop a low crest of black & yellow bars, and a violet sheen to the flanks.

Colouration: The back is a very dark brown almost black colour lightening along the flanks which are marked with small dark spots. The underside can be a deep orange or light yellow depending on sex.

Varieties: There are several subspecies. Those commonly available include T. a. apuanus from Italy, which is almost entirely aquatic, and T. a. cyreni, which is found only in the Cantabrian mountains of Spain, this subspecies is slightly smaller than other varieties.

Requirements: Alpine Newts are mainly aquatic and require a relatively small aquarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for 4-6 adults. These Newts can be maintained in a totally aquatic set-up, provided they have a few floating islands (pieces of cork) to climb out on to. A base substrate of gravel or sand is ideal with large pebbles and aquatic plants arranged to provide a number of hiding places. The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 20cm (8"). The water will need to be filtered using a submersible power filter to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water, and partial water changes should be carried out at regular intervals. It is also a good idea to lightly oxygenate the water with the use of an air-stone. A water temperature of no more than 20°C should be maintained and a low wattage fluorescent tube should be used as a light source.

Feeding: Juvenile Newts should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including Tubifex, and whiteworm. Adult Newts should be fed every other day with a mixture of earthworms, slugs, maggots, and Tubifex.