How to Successfully Keep Caecilian Worms
Aqualand’s inside info on Typhlonectes natans    

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LA Pic
Caecilian worms disappear from the market quite often.

Origin.  We’ve never heard of anyone breeding Caecilian “worms” on purpose.  The entire supply is imported from South America.  Any breeding occurs by accident.  You just all of a sudden find more "worms" in there than you expected.

LA Pic
The caecilians' segmented bodies do look very "wormy."

LA Pic
Butt-end of the caecilian.  They feel like they're made of rubber.

LA Pic
Other end of the Caecilian

Appeal.  Some people love snaky-looking critters.  Others hate them because they look like snakes.  In your tank, caecilian worms make great eye catchers.  They’re the first critter you’ll notice.  Unfortunately, they make poor community tank residents.

LA Pic
Most caecilians go from end to end in a 10-gallon tank.

LA Pic
Most will go the length of a 10 when they stretch out.

Size.  Caecilian adults grow to nearly two feet in length and over an inch in diameter.  Newborns arrive about the size of a wiggly black Bic ball point pen without the cap.

LA Pix
They shinny right up the corners and stick their heads out of the water.

Keep Well Covered.  Caecilian worms try to bail on you.  These two guys were sniffing for exits within 10 minutes of entering their tank

LA Pic
The pot is theoretically for the caecilians.  The catfish took it instead.

LA Pic
Lift up the sponge filter and there they are.  They like to hide during the day.

Living Quarters.  Provide a choice of surroundings.  Avoid bare tanks.  Lack of hiding places puts a severe emotional (I suppose) strain on these guys.  Caecilians hide behind filters and under wood and other decor.

LA Pic
Two snouts peeking out from under this sponge filter.  Rosy red passing by.

Burrowers.  Caeclians also make themselves at home in the typical terrarium.  They love to burrow in gravel or other substrates in search of hiding places or food.  

LA Pic
Caecilians hang together.

Groups.  Caecilian worms tend to ball up together (worms of a feather flock together).  They either like each other a great deal or they all want in the same hiding space.

Water.  Since they’re amphibians, caecilian worms can survive in nearly any clean water.  Frequent water changes help.

LA Pic
Surprisingly large mouth.

Tank Mates.  Avoid large fishes that beat their stuffings out or chew on them.  Caecilian worms also love to eat small fishes – even swordtails.  They will not go hungry in a community tank.  You could say they’re not good mixers.

Disease.  Injured and stressed caecilian worms pick up bacterial infections.  As with most amphibians, they usually die as a result.  Avoid handling them more than necessary.

LA
Their shed skins are translucent.

Slime Sheets.  Caecilian worms shed their skins as they grow.  When you see these large sheets of slime, siphon them out.  Keep their water as clean as possible.

Foods.  Caecilian worms prefer earthworms and bait-size fishes such as rosy reds.  They also eagerly eat many frozen foods.  Some apparently learn to eat flakes and pellets because that’s all their owners feed them.  These are the ones most likely to eat their tank mates.  Since skin covers their tiny eyes, these blind worms prefer to hunt their food at night.  Feed them just before you turn off the tank lights for the evening.

Breeding.  All the “spawnings” so far have been captured females that gave birth in captivity.  The amazingly large babies fend for themselves from day one.  Babies “shed” much more than adults because of their faster growth rate.

Life Span.  Estimates range from five to 20 years.  Since you have no way to tell their ages when you acquire them, you’ll never know how long they actually live.

Last Comments. Clean water is essential to keeping caecilian worms.  Change large amounts weekly.  LA.

© 1999, © 2003, © 2006, © 2007  LA Productions.

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