"black rubber worm"

[Skippy]

My girlfriend said she used to keep one of these when she was younger in an aquarium. I have never heard of it. Any ideas on what normal species name might eb associated with this? Has anybody heard of these?

[wetmanNY]

Hang on to that girlfriend, Skippy. She's the Right Stuff. Her ex-(pet) is a caecilian. There are three groups of amphibians: the frogs and toads; the newts and salamanders; the caecilians.

The one she was seeing was probably a South American aquatic caecilian called Typhlonectes. ("tie-flow-neck-tease")

Go here: http://www.caecilian.org/

[Skippy]

Yeah, and she also doesnt complain that every weekends errnads include stopping by at least two LFS's.

Yay team me !

[FishBait]

I haven't seen them for almost 4 years now. When I worked at the lfs we usually had them most of the time. The dang things were always going up into our Penguin filters and when I pulled the cartridges out for cleaning they'd brush up against my fingers. Took a few weeks before it didn't make me jump anymore ;) Last I heard they aren't legal to sell anymore. Several of my customers told me they bite hard and don't let go :eek: I don't see how, they have such tiny mouths.

[wetmanNY]

FishBait, the ones you were selling: did they come from South America? Brazil has really tightened up.

Amphibians are in dire straits all over the world. Those porous skins are no protection from agribusiness chemistry.

[OrionGirl]

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fw&1043016003

The one and same? Could be! Neat critter.

[Skippy]

I hope they arent illegal, she has mentioned wanting to set up a tank for one. do something like a viquarium, with some ladn space for a frog or two and one of those in the water.

[FishBait]

wetman

I honestly could not tell you where they originated from. Our fax sheets don't give us that info. I would asssume they are though, at least from the pics on the link you posted. They looked alot like T. natans.

OrionGirl

Yup, that looks just them too.

[steveshill]

Hi,

I'll be getting some in August. I have an ad posted. Do a search for rubber eels or caecilians. They will be Potomotyphlus Kaupii, which are a little more rarely available than the black Typhlonectus Natans. Anyway, they'll be $50 plus shipping. I know the price is kind of rough, but these amphibians are not showing up too often these days.

Thanks,
Steve

[Kasakato]

Last post 01-17-2003, 10:12 AM

[FreddytheFish]

i've seen "rubber eels" at a Petland near my house. they were $30 dollars each

did u know that they are livebearers?