Keeping Caecilians

Caecilians are pretty unusual animals even in the world of exotic pets, but their unique appearance and way of life makes them well worth considering for a reasonably experienced amphibian fans looking for something distinctly different. They are certainly not the easiest of animals to look after, but meet there needs and they can be fairly long-lived, with some estimates putting their lifespan at around 20 years.

Although on first inspection they look almost exactly like large earthworms, these curious and little-known tropical creatures are cousins of our more familiar toads and newts – though their bodies and biology could hardly be more dissimilar. There is often some degree of confusion over the naming of species – many being sold under rather fanciful names such as “blue eels” or “rubber worms” – but in general caecilians fall into two general types; aquatic and burrowing.

Aquatic Caecilians

Water-dwelling species – seem to enjoy a reasonably large tank to explore. The water needs to be heated to 20-27 degrees C (68-77F) and since these creatures love rooting around in the floor of their tanks for tasty morsels, a filter to help keep the water clean and clear is probably also a very wise move. Regular partial water changes are also a good idea to keep the aquarium environment in good condition. Add gravel and some suitable hiding places and your naturally rather secretive pets will feel much more at home.

Aquatic caecilians are carnivores and will eat a wide range of suitable prey items, including tubifex and earthworms. As a group, caecilians can sometimes be reluctant eaters, especially if their diet is changed, so if you do decide to keep some of these creatures, it’s worth asking whoever you get them from what they have been eating and arrange a suitable supply, rather than make any drastic changes too quickly.

Burrowing Caecilians

Burrowing caecilians need a damp terrarium, heated to around 21-28 degrees C (70-80F) and a generous layer of flooring material – such as sphagnum moss, shredded bark or potting compost – to dig around in.

Adequate humidity is essential for these animals, but it’s important to keep a good lookout for any signs of fungus, which the damp conditions tend to encourage; remove any mouldy material as soon as you spot it to avoid potential health problems for your pet.

Some kinds of burrowing caecilians are surprisingly brightly coloured for an animal which spends most of its life out of sight – the Sri Lankan species Icthyophis glutinosus, for example, sporting a yellow stripe down each side of its body.

Feeding some kinds of these burrowers may sometimes be a little tricky, since one or two species are thought to have rather specific dietary needs, making it essential to find out before you buy any particular specimen that you will be able to provide it with whatever it needs.

With their tiny, near-blind eyes, small tentacles on their heads, lack of limbs and elongated, worm-like bodies, caecilians don’t show much in the way of a family resemblance to their froggy relatives – but then being that bit unusual probably explains some of their appeal. One thing’s for sure, if you do choose to keep any of this very different group of amphibians, you’ll have a truly fascinating pet to enjoy.