Slow Worms?

JamesRowdon · Aug 19, 2019

Hello! Just joined but have been browsing the forums on this page for years. I found this fellow living with my two Russian tortoises the other day. Is it likely to be any concern? One of my torts was giving it a good sniff and I was a bit worried she was going to try having a munch!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8t4jnpwif98n58r/video-1566120180.mp4?dl=0

Maro2Bear · Aug 19, 2019

Interesting, that’s quite the worm. Personally, i think i would just relocate the worm outside the tort’s pen so torty doesnt take a bite out of it and injure/harm it. Not sure what a slow worm tastes like either, u don’t want a harmful toxin accidentally ingested.

Enjoy your slow worm outside the enclosure.

@JoesMum might have some personsl insight, or her daughter who is trained up on such UK - based critters.

Good luck

Toddrickfl1 · Aug 19, 2019

That's not a wormI don't think. That's a legless lizard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legless_lizard

Maro2Bear · Aug 19, 2019

Toddrickfl1 said:
That's not a wormI don't think. That's a legless lizard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legless_lizard

Lots of names for these guys to include legless lizard and slowworm.

Anguis fragilis is a reptile native to Eurasia. It is also called a deaf adder, a slowworm, a blindworm, or regionally, a long-cripple, to distinguish it from the Peloponnese slowworm. These legless lizards are also sometimes called common slowworms.

Toddrickfl1 · Aug 19, 2019

Gotcha I didn't know that. In Florida growing up we called them glass snakes.

JamesRowdon · Aug 19, 2019

Yep its called a 'slow-worm' over here but they are indeed legless lizards, not worms at all. They frequently get mistaken for snakes and killed. They're also not too slow either- tried to get hold of it to get it out of the enclosure but it borrowed down into the soil. I've not noticed it before so I guess it's just visiting for now- hopefully it's also fast enough to get out of there if the torts take too much interest in it! The bottom of the enclosure is lined with wire mesh to keep the tortoises from escaping, but it's plenty big enough for something smaller than a tortoise to get through.

Maro2Bear · Aug 19, 2019

JamesRowdon said:
Yep its called a 'slow-worm' over here but they are indeed legless lizards, not worms at all. They frequently get mistaken for snakes and killed. They're also not too slow either- tried to get hold of it to get it out of the enclosure but it borrowed down into the soil. I've not noticed it before so I guess it's just visiting for now- hopefully it's also fast enough to get out of there if the torts take too much interest in it! The bottom of the enclosure is lined with wire mesh to keep the tortoises from escaping, but it's plenty big enough for something smaller than a tortoise to get through.

All interesting. Another friend to watch out for. Enjoy

Lyn W · Aug 19, 2019

Yes that's a slow worm and completely harmless. One of the few lizards in the UK even though its legless - unlike snakes they have eyelids and blink. They are a protected species so do not harm them. They will eat the ants and invertebrates so do a good job in your garden.
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/reptiles/slow-worm
Slow worms give birth to live young rather than lay eggs so keep an eye out for the little golden babies which should be around now especially if you mow a lawn etc.

Yvonne G · Aug 20, 2019

Hi, and welcome!

method89 · Aug 20, 2019

"What do slow worms eat?"... "Tortoises".... love it.

Slow Worms?

JamesRowdon

New Member

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member

Toddrickfl1

Well-Known Member

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member

Toddrickfl1

Well-Known Member

JamesRowdon

New Member

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member

Lyn W

Well-Known Member

Yvonne G

Old Timer

method89

Well-Known Member

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