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AmphibianFreshwaterIntermediate
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Aquatic Caecilian
Typhlonectes natans
The Rubber Eel is a unique, fully aquatic caecilian. Completely blind and legless, this viviparous amphibian resembles a giant earthworm and spends its life burrowing in soft aquatic muds and substrates.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Gymnophiona
Family:Typhlonectidae
Genus:Typhlonectes
Species:Typhlonectes natans
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Water Temperature
24 - 28 °C
pH Value
6.5 - 7.5
Environment
Freshwater
Humidity
100 %
Day temperature
26 °C
Night temperature
22 °C
Ambient temperature
26 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the warm, slow-flowing rivers and swampy waters of the Magdalena and Cauca river basins in Colombia and Venezuela. It is a strictly aquatic species that inhabits muddy bottoms.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A legless amphibian (caecilian) reaching 40–60 cm. It has a smooth, shiny, rubber-like skin, colored dark gray or bluish-black. The body is segmented and ringed, resembling a large earthworm, and it has tiny, non-functional eyes covered by skin.
Behavior and Habits: Nocturnal and slow-moving. It spends the day coiled among aquatic plant roots or buried in soft mud. It navigates and hunts primarily through touch and smell. It must periodically swim to the surface to breathe air.
Morphology: Males and females are externally very similar. Females are typically larger and thicker-bodied when gravid, as they are viviparous and give birth to fully formed young in the water.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a warm aquatic aquarium (minimum 80–100 liters). The substrate must be fine, soft sand to prevent damage to their sensitive skin; avoid gravel. Provide plenty of hiding spots like PVC pipes and smooth wood. A tight-fitting lid is mandatory.
Lighting and Heating: Keep water temperatures warm, between 24 and 28°C; a heater with a protective guard is required to prevent skin burns. Provide dim LED lighting, as they are light-sensitive and prefer dark habitats.
Humidity and Hydration: Fully aquatic. They breathe air from the surface, so ensure easy access to the water's surface. Water must be kept clean with a mature biological filter. Perform 30% weekly water changes; use only dechlorinated water.
Feeding and Supplementation: Carnivorous. Feed them frozen bloodworms, tubifex, chopped earthworms, and sinking carnivore pellets. They rely on smell to locate food. Avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity.
Compatibility: Peaceful and social with their own kind, often huddling together. Do not house them with aggressive fish or other animals that might bite or nip at their delicate skin.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to poor water quality, which causes skin fungus (white patches) and bacterial infections. Avoid direct handling as they secrete a protective, slippery mucus that can be skin-irritating.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the warm, slow-flowing rivers and swampy waters of the Magdalena and Cauca river basins in Colombia and Venezuela. It is a strictly aquatic species that inhabits muddy bottoms.
Origin
Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 61.5 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 61.5 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 61.5 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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