The Paddletail Newt Care Cheat-Sheet
Bognookhonest amphibian care · bognook.com
Paddletail Newt — Care Cheat-SheetIntermediateA fully-aquatic, territorial newt that demands cool, clean, well-oxygenated water.
📋 At a glance
- Tank
- Fully aquatic 10–20 gal (usually 1 — territorial)
- Temp
- Cool 60–68°F · struggles above ~72°F
- Water
- Cool, clean, well-oxygenated with gentle flow
- Food
- Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, sinking pellets
- Lifespan
- 10–20 years
✅ Hardy and characterful in cool water — a robust newt if you keep it cold and solo.
🛒 Before you buy
- A cool/chilled setup — they are montane-stream animals and heat is deadly
- Strong biological filtration + good oxygenation
- An escape-proof lid
- The plan to house it ALONE (they fight)
A healthy one: Stocky and well-fed · smooth skin · clear eyes · alert and foraging in cool water.
🚨 See a vet / act now if…
- Floating or bloating
- Not eating, or weight loss
- Skin fungus, lesions, or bite wounds from tankmates
- Gasping at the surface (too warm / low oxygen)
Cool them down, reduce stress, and contact an exotics vet — most issues are reversible if caught early.
⛔ Never
- Warm water (over ~72°F)
- Housing two together (territorial fighting)
- A poorly-filtered, low-oxygen tank
🌿 Golden rules (all amphibians)
- Cycle the tank BEFORE the animal (ammonia = 0).
- Always dechlorinate tap water.
- Cool beats warm — most amphibians are cool/cold species.
- Look, don’t handle — their skin absorbs oils & soaps.
- Buy captive-bred, never wild-caught. Quarantine new arrivals.
- Never release a pet into the wild (it spreads disease).
- A real setup costs more than the animal — budget for it.
- When in doubt, ask — no shame in learning. 💚
