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AmphibianTerrestrialEasy
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Alpine Newt
Ichthyosaura alpestris
The Alpine Newt is arguably the most colorful newt in Europe. It exhibits a deeply marbled, rich blue dorsal pattern that fiercely contrasts with its completely unspotted, vibrant orange or red belly.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Caudata
Family:Salamandridae
Genus:Ichthyosaura
Species:Ichthyosaura alpestris
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
14 - 18 °C
Night temperature
8 - 12 °C
Ambient temperature
14 - 18 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to central and southern Europe, inhabiting cold mountain ponds, alpine lakes, and damp upland forests. It leads an aquatic lifestyle during the breeding season and a terrestrial one during the rest of the year.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Reaches 10-12 cm in length. The skin is granular and dry during the terrestrial phase, becoming smooth and soft in the aquatic phase. Breeding males display a striking cobalt blue dorsal color with black-and-white zebra markings, a low yellow-and-black crest, and a spotless fiery orange or red belly.
Behavior and Habits: Mainly diurnal during the aquatic stage and crepuscular during the terrestrial stage. In spring, males court females with elaborate tail-fanning displays in the water. In autumn, they migrate to land to hibernate under logs, stones, or tree roots.
Morphology: Females are larger and heavier than males, with duller marbled grey or brown coloration. Males develop a low dorsal crest, a swollen cloaca during the breeding season, and a far more intense cobalt blue nuptial coloration.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires an aqua-terrarium or paludarium (minimum 60x45x30 cm) with a 60-70% aquatic zone that is 15-20 cm deep, heavily planted with fine-leaved plants (Elodea, Ceratophyllum) for egg-laying, and a damp terrestrial zone filled with moss and bark.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers cool conditions. Maintain daytime temperatures between 14 and 18°C; heat above 22°C can be fatal. Requires a significant night drop (8-12°C) and winter hibernation at 4-8°C to trigger breeding. Provide 5% UVB lighting.
Humidity and Hydration: Keep humidity in the terrestrial section at 80-100%. Water must be clean, dechlorinated, and well-oxygenated. Ensure excellent ventilation to prevent bacterial and fungal infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: A voracious carnivore. Feed on small earthworms, daphnia, bloodworms, and other insect larvae. Dust terrestrial prey items with calcium and vitamin supplements 2-3 times a week.
Compatibility: Peaceful and social. Best kept in small single-species groups. Avoid housing with fish or larger, predatory amphibians that may prey on them or compete for food.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly vulnerable to heat stress and ammonia buildup, which can cause bloat (dropsy) and fungal skin infections. Do not handle with bare hands; human body heat and skin oils can easily burn their sensitive, permeable skin.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to central and southern Europe, inhabiting cold mountain ponds, alpine lakes, and damp upland forests. It leads an aquatic lifestyle during the breeding season and a terrestrial one during the rest of the year.
Origin
Europe, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 8.75 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 8.75 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 8.75 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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