Salamander Care buying guide

Newt and Salamander Care

Ah, Newts and Salamanders- easily the cutest amphibians out of the bunch. The duo make great pets for newcomers to the herp world, and are pretty easy to maintain. However, like all pets, special precautions and attention needs to be paid to newts when you first get them home.

What you'll need

Necessities

Food

Newts and salamanders feed on floating food sticks , bloodworms, glassworms, other tiny aquatic worms.

Fish food is also a nutritious alternative.

Housing

A standard fifteen gallon terrarium (24 inches long by 12 inches high by 12 inches wide) should be plenty big for a group of newts.

Hiding Places

All reptiles get stressed out at some point. Giving your newt and/or salamander a place to hide in "dismal" times is vital for their physical and emotional health.

Things to look for

Newts and Salamanders have very sensitive skin, so it's ideal not to handle them frequently. If you're going to, however, make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly before doing so. Also, young children should be supervised when handling their newt or salamander, and pregnant women, infants, and people with weak immune systems should keep their encounters with them to a minimum.

Both feed on crickets and worms, and should be fed anywhere between 3-4 times each week. To maintain food safety, remove any uneaten insects at the end of the night. Do not leave any dead insects in the tank overnight. You should also dust your pet with a calcium supplement twice each week, which can be found at PETsMart, or any other retail chain.

Finding your newt a home

There are a handful of options to look for when shopping for a place to keep your newt and/or salamander.

Terrarium

Newts and salamanders need homes that are part land and part water. You can accomplish this by doing one of two things.

Place a water dish in the terrarium deep enough for full body soaking.
Create a divided terrarium with a land area and a water area. The land area should be on a slight incline, which will help the newt get in and out of the water easily.

Filter

Most owners use a small underwater filter to keep the terrarium clean.

Plants

These help maintain the humidity necessary for the newt to live comfortably, which should be at around 80%.

Temperature

Try to keep the temperature in the terrarium between 68-75 degrees fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to keep track of the temperature at all times.

Bedding

You can line the home with 2-3" of gravel, again with an incline to create a dry area. Clean weekly.

External Links

PetsMart.com - Newts and Salamanders