Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

Short answers

Great crested newt: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×40 cm aqua-terrarium (~2/3 water, at least 25 cm deep).

Great crested newt: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 15–20 °C (cooler preferred), at night 10–15 °C.

Great crested newt: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional.

Great crested newt: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~15 years.

Great crested newt: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

15–20 °C (cooler preferred)

Night temperature

10–15 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

80–100 % (land section)

UVB

Optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×40 cm aqua-terrarium (~2/3 water, at least 25 cm deep)

Substrate

A densely planted water section, a land section of moss and bark hides, exit aids

Feeding

Food

Daphnia, mosquito larvae, worms, small slugs, insects

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

14–18 cm (females larger)

Life expectancy

up to ~15 years

Origin

Central and eastern Europe (including Germany), deciduous forest with breeding ponds

Protection status

Strictly protected (Habitats Directive Annexes II and IV, German Federal Species Protection Ordinance) — taking from the wild is prohibited, registration required, only documented captive breeding

Brumation

A winter rest of 3–5 months at 4–6 °C (compulsory for reproduction)

Cohabitation

A group of equally sized animals with a surplus of females is the least stressful option: on land the animals share hides. During courtship males harass the females, so keep more females than males. Never house animals of different sizes together – in the water, crested newts also eat smaller amphibians and larvae.

Notes

A strictly protected native species — keep it only with legal proof of origin. Cool conditions are essential; provide safe exit aids in the water section.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) – Intermediate
• Marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus) – Intermediate
• Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) – Expert
• Anderson's crocodile newt (Echinotriton andersoni) – Expert
• Anderson's salamander (Ambystoma andersoni) – Intermediate
• Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) – Beginner to intermediate
• Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) – Beginner
• Blue-tailed fire-bellied newt (Cynops cyanurus) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×40 cm aqua-terrarium (~2/3 water, at least 25 cm deep)), substrate (A densely planted water section, a land section of moss and bark hides, exit aids), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.