Amphibians
Eastern newt / red-spotted newt care guide
Notophthalmus viridescens
A hardy North American newt. Adults are mostly aquatic; the orange 'red eft' juvenile stage is land-dwelling and needs a damp terrestrial setup.
Aquatic — water volume and floor area first
Eastern newt / red-spotted newt enclosure size
Aquatic — water volume and floor area first. An adult eastern newt / red-spotted newt should live in at least 20" L × 10" W × 12" H; we build toward 24" L × 12" W × 12" H (2 × 1 × 1 ft, roughly 2 sq ft of floor and about a 15-gallon glass equivalent).
A 10–20 gallon tank with a small land area or floating plants.
- Larva
- 20" L × 10" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 8" W × 8" H
- Red eft (land stage)
- 20" L × 10" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult (aquatic)
- 24" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 20" L × 10" W × 12" H
Temperature and heating
No heater needed at normal room temperatures; warm water stresses newts.
- Basking / warm surface
- No basking spot
- Warm side (ambient)
- Water 60–70°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- Keep under 75°F
- Night
- Room temperature drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Not required; normal aquarium light for plants. Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target Aquatic adults; efts need 70–90%. Adults: keep water clean and cycled. Efts: damp moss or coco fiber with a shallow water dish.
Substrate and depth
Bare bottom, fine sand or large smooth stones. Depth: 0–1 in.
Water and filtration
- Water depth
- 6–10 in for adults
- Filtration
- Cycled low-flow sponge filter
- Basking dock
- Floating cork or plants so the newt can rest at the surface
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Live aquatic plants
- Floating cork bark
- Hides
- Tight-fitting lid
Build list
- Liquid water test kit — Log ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH weekly.
- Sponge filter — Gentle flow that won't batter small aquatic amphibians.
- Water conditioner / RO water — Chlorine and chloramine burn permeable skin.
Eastern newt / red-spotted newt FAQ
How big should an adult Eastern newt / red-spotted newt enclosure be?
At least 20" L × 10" W × 12" H, and we recommend building to 24" L × 12" W × 12" H — about 2 × 1 × 1 ft, or a 15-gallon glass equivalent. Aquatic — water volume and floor area first.
What temperatures does an Eastern newt / red-spotted newt need?
Basking or warm surface No basking spot, warm side Water 60–70°F, cool side Keep under 75°F, night Room temperature drop is fine. No heater needed at normal room temperatures; warm water stresses newts.
Does an Eastern newt / red-spotted newt need UVB?
Not required; normal aquarium light for plants. Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does an Eastern newt / red-spotted newt need?
Aquatic adults; efts need 70–90%. Adults: keep water clean and cycled. Efts: damp moss or coco fiber with a shallow water dish.
What substrate is best for an Eastern newt / red-spotted newt?
Bare bottom, fine sand or large smooth stones, at a depth of 0–1 in.
How big does an Eastern newt / red-spotted newt enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Larva: 20" L × 10" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 12" L × 8" W × 8" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping an Eastern newt / red-spotted newt?
Skin secretes toxins — Wash hands before and after handling, never use soap or untreated tap water, and keep handling to a minimum. Newts are escape artists; use a tight lid.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own eastern newt / red-spotted newt record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.