Alpine Newt (Mesotriton alpestris) set-up?

[philbaker76]

Hi guys,

I've been offered some Alpine Newts. I've toyed with the idea of keeping some Newts in the past ~ but never got around to it.

Done some reading up on them ~ including the caudata.org care sheet.
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Triturus/T_alpestris.shtml

They are Mesotriton alpestris ~ I'm assuming they are Mesotriton alpestris alpestris and come with papers (or something) from the guy who bred them. I'll try and identify them myself when I see them.

Just wanted to get some advice/feedback/tips from any members that keep (or have kept) these newts.

I like the idea of having a mainly aquatic set-up ~ as I'm used to managing these; with my Axolotls. OK ~ here are my questions... (sorry if they're repeated posts - I did search the forum before posting).

1. I'm considering a 2 or 3ft tank ~ how many (adult) Apline Newts could I happily keep together?
2. Will a mainly aquatic set-up be OK for M.a. alpestris some care sheets suggest they are more terrestrial than other M.a. species. If not ~ how much (%) land space will they need?
3. I read somewhere that males can be terratorial; is this true?
4. Finally, from reading up on them - they seem pretty easy to keep; but are they a good novice species?

Thanks in advance.
Phil