Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

Short answers

Palmate newt: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×40×40 cm aqua-terrarium (approx. two thirds water).

Palmate newt: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 15–20 °C, at night 10–15 °C.

Palmate newt: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional.

Palmate newt: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~10 years.

Palmate newt: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

15–20 °C

Night temperature

10–15 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

80–100 % (land section)

UVB

Optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×40×40 cm aqua-terrarium (approx. two thirds water)

Substrate

A densely planted water section, a land section of moss or cork with hides

Feeding

Food

Daphnia, mosquito larvae, freshwater shrimp, small worms, insects

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

8,5–9,5 cm

Life expectancy

up to ~10 years

Origin

Western and central Europe (including Germany), humid deciduous forest

Protection status

Specially protected (German Federal Species Protection Ordinance) — taking from the wild is prohibited, only documented captive breeding

Brumation

A winter rest of ~2–4 months at 4–8 °C

Cohabitation

Keeping a group of similarly sized animals of the same species works well, as they are not aggressive towards each other. Only combine animals with a maximum size difference of about 25%, otherwise smaller ones get eaten or attacked; provide enough hiding places so each animal can retreat. Do not keep fish or larger invertebrate tankmates, since palmate newts hunt them and are themselves nipped by some fish.

Notes

Cool conditions are needed, and summer overheating must be avoided. A native, protected species: lawful only as a captive-bred animal with proof of origin.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bosca's newt (Lissotriton boscai) – Intermediate
• Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) – Intermediate
• Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) – 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×40×40 cm aqua-terrarium (approx. two thirds water)), substrate (A densely planted water section, a land section of moss or cork with hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.