Rubberworm

[apab]

Hi,

I have a Rubberworm that I've had for about 4 years. He's over 2 ft long and about 3' wide around...I've just noticed that he has a chunck missing from the right side of his nose. I think the wound may be getting larger. When he comes up for air I can see his right nostril bubbling air. He also seems to be having a hard time keeping his lower half down...it's started to float up.

Any ideas? Suggestions on how to heal the wound.

Thanks. He's great and I'm very attached to him.

 

[Mikaila31]

You mean a Typhlonectes natans? Its a type of amphibian, the symptoms you are describing don't sound good. Normally when kept properly they are very hardy, but they can get bacterial infections which are hard to treat. Do you have any pics of the wound or the caecilian? Two feet is the adult size, but 3" around sounds kinda thin to me, but going on that size I would assume that he is indeed male. What are you feeding him and how often?

 

[apab]

You mean a Typhlonectes natans? Its a type of amphibian, the symptoms you are describing don't sound good. Normally when kept properly they are very hardy, but they can get bacterial infections which are hard to treat. Do you have any pics of the wound or the caecilian? Two feet is the adult size, but 3" around sounds kinda thin to me, but going on that size I would assume that he is indeed male. What are you feeding him and how often?

I'll try to get a picture up. I just measured him and he's actually about 4 inches around.

I feed him frozen krill shrimp and bloodworms, live tubifex worms and goldfish. He's fed everyday.

I've never had any issues with him or my other rubberworm. I'm hoping I can treat the wound. I wonder if got bitten, I do have a baby bichir in the tank, but he's seems pretty mellow so far...and it's a big tank with lots of hiding places and rock caves.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Mikaila31]

What color is the wound and how long has he had it?

I would not suggest feeding him goldies. Unless you have trained them on to fish, they usually won't eat them. I keep a pair with lots of fish ranging from 2-4" and they won't even eat dead fish. Goldies, especially if you buy them from pet stores, tend to carry lots of disease and are very poor in nutrtional value. Other then that the other foods seem ok. I give mine krill and food shrimp occasionly, bloodworms I find too messy and too small to try to feed, and I've never tried tubifex. I suggest trying them on bait nightcrawlers, from wlatmart, gas stations, ect. These seem to be a favorite food for these guys.

As far as the wound goes I can only suggest keeping him well fed and keeping the temp at around 80*F. There is not much else you can do. There are no medications I know of that are for treating aquatic amphibians. If fed well and kept in the right conditions they usually heal themselves.

 

[apab]

The wound is white. He's had it for about a week. The only issue he's ever had. It looks like something bit him. Very clean around the edges and it doesn't seem to bother him except when he bangs it on the ground.

Yes, I feed them nightcrawlers/earthworms regularly. I usually feed them goldfish about once a week. I dangle the goldie by it's tail and they come up and eat them from me. It's great to watch and they seem to enjoy it.

I've added another water conditioner to the tank that says it's supposed to help with slime coats.

Thanks for all the advice and I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mikaila31]

White? It could possibly be a heater burn. Happens occasionaly with my female for some reason despite my best efforts. She currently has a small burn on her side. It sounds similar to what you described. I'll post a pic when I get a chance. Tell me if it looks the same.

You can feed goldfish if you want. Caecillians are hardy and inmmune to most fish diseases so it probably wouldn't do much harm. I give mine cheese and bites of omlets ocassionaly, cuz they seem to like them. I would just watch the bichir and any other fish in the tank. As they will be suseptible to diseases the goldfish introduce.

 

[Mikaila31]

not the best pic or the best example of a heater burn. This one is very minor, a more serious one looks much whiter.