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Care Sheet: Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

Common Name: Red-spotted Newt, Eastern Newt, Green Newt, Broken-striped Newt, Peninsular Newt.

Scientific Name: Notophthalmus viridescens.

Distribution: South-eastern Canada, north-eastern America.

Size: 10-12cm.

Life Expectancy: 4-6 years.

Sexing: Males have more swollen cloaca, and when in breeding condition they develop brood tail fins. Females are often plumper when viewed from above.

Varieties: There are several subspecies of the Red-spotted Newt. The most common is N. v. viridescens which sports the usual light brown dorsum with small red spots, highlighted with black borders. The second most common subspecies available to the hobbyist is the Broken-striped Newt (N. v. dorsalis) in this subspecies the red spots elongate into stripes. The third subspecies seen with any regularity is the Florida Peninsula Newt (N. v. piaropicola) which completely lacks the red spots.

Requirements: Jeuvenile Red-spotted Newts (Red efts) are totally terrestrial and require a woodland type-set up, with a substrate of bark-chips, and moss. A 15 gallon tank would happily house 6 efts. Furnishings can include cork bark, driftwood, pebbles, and plants. A shallow water dish should be provided and the water changed daily. Adult Red-spotted Newts are mainly aquatic and require a relatively small aquarium. A 15 gallon tank would be adequate for 4 adults. These Adult 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 15-23cm (6-9"). 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 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 Daphnia, Tubifex, blood worm, and whiteworm. Adult Newts should be fed every other day with a mixture of earthworms, slugs, maggots, and Tubifex.