Choosing an Aquatic Caecilian By: R.D. and Patti Bartlett Read
By: Pet Lovers The aquatic caecilian is an undemanding creature
that is often mistakenly called an eel. It breathes air, and
periodically rises to the water surface to gulp in a fresh
breath. The caecilians are tropical amphibians, distinct from
frogs and the salamanders. The caecilians belongs to the family
Gymnophiona and there are several species. Only one or possibly
two fully aquatic neotropical forms enter the pet trade. This
species, Typhlonectes natans, is often referred to by persons
who have heard the name pronounced but not seen it written, as
the Sicilian eel. Origin and Life Span In the wild, the aquatic
caecilian dwells in mud-bottomed areas of quiet waters – in
oxbows and other such habitats – that may occasionally dry
seasonally. Should this happen, the caecilian burrows down into
the moisture-holding mud to await the replenishment of the
surface water during the next rainy season. To date, the
reported longevity for a captive aqua