Info

    The red-spotted newt is a small amphibian that is found from South Ontario to Novia Scotia and south through east Texas and Florida. They live in weedy lake shallows, ponds, backwaters of slow moving streams and swamps. Their life span is up to 20 years.

    The red-spotted newt has a three-stage life cycle: aquatic larvae, terrestrial efts (the young), and aquatic adult. They breed in April and May and the eggs hatch in three to four weeks. In the water stage the red-spotted newt is dark green with dark red spots. In the land stage it’s light orange. Because the females don’t take care of their children, they have to lay 200-400 eggs. The eggs are covered with a jelly like substance. The efts eat spiders, caterpillars, flies and invertebrates.                      

   The newt uses its sight, smell, and taste to hunt for food. Its red-spotted newt’s diet is mainly bugs like insects, worms, spiders, snails and slugs. They eat chopped worms, water crustaceans, snails and raw, lean meat. They also like insects and spiders, slugs, crickets and woodlice.  Its bright color it warns predators that it is inedible.

     The red-spotted newt has fingers and toes that are the most sensitive part of the newt for touch. The pupils in its eye are horizontal, which is best to see in daylight.

    The red-spotted newt moves fast in water but very slow on land. It’s color helps it blend with the aquatic underbrush. The skin is also slimy and helps protect the newt from drying out.

    The red-spotted newt attracts its mate with its bright red spots. The male wiggles and causes an odor to be released, and this attracts the female.

    The red-spotted newt is also called the green water lizard. It’s the most easily kept pet of all the newts in North America. The red-spotted newt is also the strongest of all the newts in North America.

Care

    Newts can live in different types of water, including frozen, stagnant or polluted pools. They survive best in a large aquarium, which should consist of half land and half water. It needs to have good light, but not direct sunlight. They like cool conditions and the rocks, gravel and sand need to be cleaned on occasion.