An alpine newt is a type of salamander found in parts of Europe where there is plenty of water, forests, and mountains. They get their name from the mountain range in Europe where they can be found in the water during mating season and on land other times of the year but live in many other areas of Europe.
Size
Alpine newts that are found in captivity and kept as pets are usually one of three of the ten subspecies. The largest of those newts will get up to 13 cm (or about 5 inches) in length, making any kind of pet newt a small one.
Lifespan
These are long-lived amphibians, especially when properly cared for and kept in cooler environments. You can expect your alpine newt to live about 15-20 years.
Housing Your Alpine Newt
Since a newt is an amphibian, they need access to water and land at all times. Alpine newts really only flourish in large aquariums, therefore a 10 gallon fish tank is not appropriate by any means. Think big for your little newt and splurge on at least a 50 gallon aquarium. You want your newt to be able to actually swim, not just stand in water. At least a foot and a half of water should be in the aquatic side of your environment.
On the other side of the tank, create a land area by using rocks or getting creative with a shelf or other suitable material. Slope the one side to create easy access in and out of the water for your newt. Whatever material you choose to create this land area you can cover with moss and amphibian safe dirt to make a more natural and comfortable environment for your little guy. See "Tips for Tank Set Up" for more tips on salamander and newt tank set up.
Temperatures
Since Alpine newts are from cooler areas in Europe, and some populations even reaching into Russia, they thrive in a cool environment. This doesn't mean cold, but cool. Temperatures between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit have proven to be ideal for Alpine newts. If you are having difficulty maintaining a cool environment, try adding a couple of ice cubes to the water portion of the enclosure. Some people even add cool water to the enclosure a couple of times a day and take out some of the warmer water to help maintain a lower temperature. Just be sure whatever water you add is the same kind of water you used to fill the tank originally.
Water for Alpine Newts
Alpine newts do well in simple de-chlorinated tap water using a product like DeChlor or another liquid drop to neutralize the chlorine from the tap.
If your tap water is well water, very hard mineralized water, or if the pH is above 7.8 (alkalinic) or below 6.4 (acidic), you should not use your tap water. If any of these things are the case, opt to use spring water. You can buy pH test strips in the fish department of your pet store or online to test whatever spring water you choose. The Deer Park and Poland Springs brands usually test right around 6.8 and the Arrowhead brand is about 7.0. One of these three would make a good spring water set-up for any amphibian. If you are having an issue with cloudiness in your tank or your newt is sick, switch to using spring water as well.
Lighting
Like other nocturnal or crepuscular amphibians and reptiles, Alpine newts don't require UVB lighting. It definitely won't hurt your newt to have it, and if your newt is sick, not eating, or if you have live plants in the terrarium you should have a UVB bulb on for 10-12 hours a day.
Diet
If you have an adult Alpine newt you can offer it small worms, crickets, mealworms, and waxworms along with various other insects. Dusting the food every few meals with a multi-vitamin powder is recommended.
If your newt is still in the aquatic stage, check out the fish department of your pet store. Bloodworms, tubifex, brine shrimp, and water crustaceans like Daphnia are available and great to feed your growing newt. If you have a young newt they may not be fully matured until they are almost 3 years old so don't be alarmed if they stay in this aquatic stage for some time.
Cleaning the Tank
An undergravel or submersible filter is needed for aeration and keeping the water clean. Alpine newts do not do well if kept in sub-optimal water quality. Make sure whatever filter type you choose that it has small slits so your newt won't get stuck or sucked into the filter.
Regular water changes should be done on an as needed basis to assure your water quality is optimal and remember to use spring water to increase your chances of succeeding in caring for your alpine newt.
