Called the red eft in the terrestrial phase, and the water newt or green water lizard in the adult aquatic stage, the Eastern newt, found all over the northern and eastern United States, is one of the hardiest and most attractive of the salamanders. After a normal larval stage in the water, newts usually live on land. These woodland adolescents, or efts, are about 2″ long. In most regions the red eft returns to the water for breeding and assumes different coloration and habits. When fully grown, Eastern newts are 3–4″ long. In both phases, they have two rows of scarlet spots rimmed with black running down their backs.
These animals should be housed in a terrarium or aquarium according to the animal’s stage of development. If the animals are in the olive-green water phase (larval), keep them in an aquarium. In this stage they usually eat more readily and are easier to care for than in the red eft stage. Feed them finely cut meat and liver, wingless fruit flies, enchytraeus (white worms), and tubifex worms three times a week. Be sure to remove all uneaten food from the aquarium.
The attractive Eastern newt makes a good addition to a damp moss-covered terrarium. They can be difficult to feed, but will usually accept small food such as white worms, fruit flies, or very small earthworms. They will usually not accept dead meat.
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