What Is the Typical Pet Newt's Habitat?

Newts inhabit the temperate climates of North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Some varieties, including the eastern newt, inhabit cooler climes as well, as far north as Minnesota. They belong to the amphibian animal group like frogs and toads, and they possess no scales or claws; their skin is moist and smooth. Newts reside in three types of climates: aquatic, semiaquatic and terrestrial.

  1. Aquatic

    • Aquatic newts live their entire life in water. An aquarium for this type of newt must be waterproof and lined with gravel at the bottom of the tank. Fill the tank with gravel about 2 inches high near the front and 3 inches high toward the back to create a slope. Plant aquatic plants and replace as needed; newts rip and wear down the plants as a part of their natural behavior. Buy the plants from a pet or aquatics store, where the personnel will be more knowledgeable about appropriate types of plants to place in the tank.

    Semiaquatic

    • Semiaquatic newts live on land but enter the water during breeding season. They return to land when mating and reproduction ends. They need a large aquarium divided in half with a piece of glass glued in the middle of the tank. In the first half of the tank, lay sand to a depth of about 2 inches. Fill it up with water to about 3/4 inch above the sand. Place aquatic plants on this side as well. Also, put in a store-bought aquarium rock so the newt can crawl out of the water. On the other side of the tank, put down sand as well. Also include potting soil, peat moss and pieces of rock, tree bark and small store-bought caves for the newt to sleep in and hide under.

    Terrestrial

    • Terrestrial newts rarely enter water. Their aquarium requires a lot less work. Do not worry about adding water. Just include the sand, peat moss, potted soil and some garden loam. The terrestrial newts do need high humidity. Place a dish of water in the tank and replace regularly for sanitation purposes. The water, plus all the plants, will help to keep the habitat humid.

    Extra Materials

    • Place a water heater and light in the tank. Water heaters produce humidity, while proper lighting mimics sunlight. Place the light out of reach of the newt. Also, install a ventilation and water filtration system in the tank to help maintain a clean and humid environment. Spray water on the newt to keep it hydrated and moist. Drop the temperature at night about 12 degrees. Place a lid on the tank. Do not use a heating lamp. The high temperature of heating lamps can kill the aquatic plants and the pet newt.