Pet newts are carnivores, so the short answer is live, frozen or freeze-dried animal foods: earthworms, blackworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp and, for larger newts, small insects. A varied mix of those, fed in or near the water they live in, covers what most pet newts need.
What Newts Eat
In the wild, newts hunt small invertebrates. In a tank, you copy that with foods like these:
- Earthworms and blackworms: a staple for most aquatic and semi-aquatic newts. Chop earthworms into bite-size pieces for smaller newts.
- Bloodworms and tubifex: frozen or freeze-dried versions work well as a treat. Thaw frozen cubes first.
- Brine shrimp and small freshwater shrimp: good for young newts and smaller species.
- Insects: small crickets, waxworms and fruit flies suit land-dwelling stages and terrestrial species.
- Sinking pellets made for amphibians or carnivorous fish: some newts accept them, especially if they are used to them from a young age.
Avoid wild-caught insects and worms from places that may have been treated with pesticides, and never feed human foods or processed meats.
How Often to Feed
Juvenile newts grow quickly and usually eat daily or every other day. Adults do well with a meal two to four times a week, depending on size and species. Remove uneaten food after a few hours so it doesn’t foul the water. A healthy newt is rounded but not bloated, so adjust portions to body shape rather than a fixed schedule.
Where to Feed
Feed in the tank, not in a separate dish. Moving a newt around to feed it adds stress and isn’t needed. Aquatic newts take food from the water, while semi-aquatic and land-stage newts do best with food placed on a flat rock or feeding dish at the water’s edge. Newts that are mostly nocturnal may refuse food in bright daylight, so try feeding in the evening.
Species Notes
Chinese fire-bellied newts are fully or mostly aquatic as adults and eat worms, shrimp and bloodworms. Other pet species, such as Eastern newts, spend part of their lives on land and will take insects there. Wild European newts follow a similar pattern, as covered in our guides on what crested newts eat, what palmate newts eat and feeding newts in a pond. Some wild newt species are legally protected, so never take them from the wild to keep as pets.
Water and Hygiene
Use dechlorinated water, keep the tank cool (most newts dislike warm water) and do regular partial water changes. Wash your hands before and after handling anything in the tank, because amphibian skin is delicate and some species carry mild skin toxins.
Bottom Line
Feed your newt a varied diet of worms, shrimp and small insects, a few times a week, in its own tank. If your newt stops eating for more than a week or two, loses weight or shows skin changes, call an exotics vet.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. For health concerns, contact a vet experienced with amphibians.
