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Care Sheet: Sharp-ribbed Newt (Pleurodeles waltl)

Common Name: Sharp Ribbed Salamander, Spanish Ribbed Newt, Rough Spanish Newt, Iberian Ribbed Newt.

Scientific Name: Pleurodeles waltl.

Distribution: Central & Southern Iberia, Morocco.

Size: 15-30cm.

Sexing: Males of this species have slightly longer & deeper tails, also during breeding season nuptial pads develop on the forelimbs.

Coloration: The back is an olive green - brown marked with darker blotches, the underside is a lighter yellow, gray. Rows of yellowish orange warts run down the sides each marking the tip of a protruding rib.

Requirements: Sharp Ribbed Newts are Europe's largest species of Salamander and require a relatively large aquarium. A 22-gallon tank would be adequate for 3 - 4 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 a dense array of 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 22°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, Tubifex, Shrimp, small fish and pellets.