Triturus vulgaris / Smooth Newt setup

[Levo]

Hi I love the site it looks very good and I have spent a good few hours reading through the content. I am only 20 and a student so don't have much room at the moment to start a collection just yet but I am interested in getting a newt.

I am hoping to inherit a small tank, its not very big and I haven't done the measurements yet but I think its about 10 gallons it has housed serval small fish before. I was looking to getting a Triturus vulgaris I think it is common name: Smooth Newt. From reading I notice that they do spend the majority of their time on land, would it be possible to put them in a semi-aquatic setup, I was looking at the setups on the website and thought they looked great. So basically I am looking for a little advice on what sort of vivrium to keep them in.

Also I keep tiger worms in my flat as part of composting, the worms are very healthy and breed quickly so I have got a good supply of these worms, would anyone know if these worms would be a good source of food for the newts?

 

[andrew]

Hi there, smooth newts in my opinion don't make the best pets in the world. For a few months of the year they're great when they're breeding etc, but once they finish and leave the water in my experience all they want to do is curl up and be left alone so they aren't the most interesting subjects. I think they're better observed in nature.
If you want something that is easy to keep and more active...a better size etc i'd suggest a pair warty newts. They're alot more active, hardy and interesting and can be kept pretty much fully aquatic all year round....they dont cost a whole lot either.
As for the compost worms you mention, these sound like Dendrobaena spp. It's a shame but the majority caudata wont eat these compost worms...a much prefered species is the Lumbricus Terrestris.

 

[Levo]

Thanks for your reply, after more research in the whole subject I certainty of the opinion that I won't be keeping smooth newts and will have a look round for some more suitable newts or maybe axie if I can find them locally. When I am able to get a house of my own in the next few years I hope I should have the room to make a temporary home for some smooth newts to observe them during the mating season or to be able to create a pond to attract them.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[lims]

Hello Levo,
I would agree with Andy, I have kept L. Vulgaris before, but only over the warmer months when they are aquatic, its great to watch them courting during this time.
I have 2 warty newts, P. hongkongensis, very easy to care for and active feeders..

 

[Levo]

Your newt I just had a nose at in the your gallery looks really cool, I am going to look around the pet stores to see what they may have in around the Liverpool area.
The warty newts look good do they need much room? I am looking to inherit a tank It's not too big I don't know the size of yet but I am working on the basis it is around 10 gallons. I know you say these newts are 100 % aquatic, but does that mean if they were in a semi aquatic tank they wouldn't venture out the water? How much do they like land?