do anyone keep slow worms as a pet

[josephine45]

hi evryon
was wondering weather anyone keeps slow worm as pets?
i have 4 slow worms in a tank ill be adding pics of them soon
thay are great to watch thay give me so much pleasure .their in a large tank with dirt wich i change now and then thay have plenty of peants ect.
and a water bowl .thay also have heat with a light .and their doing great
thay eat plenty of slugs ,snails and live food.as im in a flat . but wen i move to a house with garden soon i will be releaseing them back into the wild

[marvin]

hi josephine45

i love slowworms and my children are always trying to persuade me to keep a couple as pets or collect some to release in our garden. i think part of their appeal is that they seem so amenable to handling. however, i have always resisted the temptation for a number of reasons.

firstly, it's always better for wild animals to be in their natural environment. despite our best efforts and despite them seeming happy in captivity it will never be possible to recreate an environment that will suit them better than the one they have come from.

secondly, there are usually exactly the right number of animlas in a population to sustain that population and you never really know what impact removing the slowworms from their home will have on the population dynamics in the short or long term.

thirdly, although it would be lovely to have slowworms in my garden and despite believing that i have created a good habitat i could never be sure that the environment was right for them.

fourthly, as i live in a residential area it may mean exposing the animals to predators they are not used to such as cats and i would hate to think that, even with the best intentions, i had put the animals in unnecessary danger.

just my thoughts but whatever you choose to do i hope it works out for both you and the slowworms.

cheers
tim

ps if the animals are captive bred and you are happy keeping them as pets releasing them into the wild would also be problematic.

[Kayleigh]

You shouldn't really keep them as pets they belong in the wild and are supposed to protected by law.
So I would suggest you find a suitable place and release them as soon as possible..

Welcome to WAB......

[josephine45]

ive kept them because the council has destroyed what was their home as thay were near a golf course .but their safe in the tank at the mo and i do agree thay should go bk to the wild and wen i fine a nice spot for them then ill release them i handle them reg .their not in stress what so every .also i did read up on the and it did say you can keep them as a pet as long as you don't sell them

[marvin]

hmm...the land should have been surveyed for reptiles and a proper capture and translocation carried out. it shouldn't have been left to a well meaning member of the public to sort out. you may want to make a formal complaint to the council! well done to you for caring though. golf courses can actually provide good habitat for reptiles though, so there might be somewhere very close to their original home where they can be released. it is generally understood that reptiles moved under such circumstances should be released as close to where they were captured as possible in order to minimise distress and maximise chances of survival.

good luck josephine. i hope it works out well for you and the slowworms.

tim

[lottie7]

i have rescued a slow worm( a magpie had dropped her from a great height right in front of us) and she doesnt seem to be in very good condition so i phoned a wildlife person on the phone and he suggested that we keep her- does anyone agree or disagree? please give reasons

also, does anyone know if UV lighting is essential if they are living indoors??

do u think i shud release or not release??
many thanks
charlotte xxxxxx

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by lottie7

i have rescued a slow worm( a magpie had dropped her from a great height right in front of us) and she doesnt seem to be in very good condition so i phoned a wildlife person on the phone and he suggested that we keep her- does anyone agree or disagree? please give reasons

also, does anyone know if UV lighting is essential if they are living indoors??

do u think i shud release or not release??
many thanks
charlotte xxxxxx

This time of year they hibernate so would be very reluctant to release it yet..
As to whether to release it later that depends entirely if the slow worm is fit and well enough to be released.
You said it was in a bad way and advised not to be released so I take it it needs care for a while..
I would take it to a vet to get it checked over and let them know your willing to care for it until they think it can be released.

Welcome to WAB..

[sidewalkdoctor]

Protected species in the UK
In the United Kingdom the slow worm has been granted protected status, alongside all other native British reptile species. The slow worm has been decreasing in numbers, and under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is illegal to intentionally kill, injure, sell or advertise to sell them.
Anguis fragilis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Slow-worms are protected by law in Great Britain against being killed, injured or sold or traded in any way.

The Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis)

and finally this;

It is not illegal to catch them. It is also not illegal to give them to someone else. below is an exert from section 5 of the Wildlife and Countyside Act 1981

Full protection
This applies to the great crested newt, natterjack toad, sand lizard and smooth snake and to all species of marine turtle (i.e. the families Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae) when found in British waters. All parts of Section 9 apply. This prohibits the intentional killing. injuring or taking (capture. etc); possession; intentional disturbance whilst occupying a 'place used for shelter or protection' and destruction of these places; sale, barter. exchange. transporting for sale and advertising to sell or to buy.

Protection against killing, injuring and sale, etc
This level of protection applies to the four widespread species of reptile, namely the common lizard, slow-worm, grass snake and adder. Only part of sub-section 9(1) and all of sub-section 9(5) apply; these prohibit the intentional killing and injuring and trade (i.e. sale, barter, exchange, transporting for sale and advertising to sell or to buy). It is not an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to possess these animals.

I got them wild in my back garden......

[marvin]

hi

i think kayleigh is right. have it checked by a vet (they should treat wild animals for free).

i'd also be tempted to keep it over winter.

i've never kept them myself but my thoughts are:

if you are keeping it indoors in a centrally heated house i'm pretty sure it will interrupt its normal hibernation cycle so you'll have to provide food and water. slowworms will eat worms, insects and spiders but are partciularly fond of those little white slugs. if you find these things harder to come by in the winter i think you would get away with using crickets etc bought from a pet shop. put in a good layer of garden compost with some vegetation and a pile of flat rocks/slates on top that should be fine. i don't think you'd need a uv light.

if you are keeping it outdoors you won't have to worry about food until late feb/march when it may be ready for release anyway, but make sure whatever you are keeping it in can't get too wet.

where are you btw?

good luck
tim

[lottie7]

im living in erith and our slow worm is living indoors. when we first rescued her she was eating really well and getting rather fat but now she seems to be deterioriating and is now skinny. she seems to be blind in 1 eye and now has a scar by her head. i think i will release her around summer, if not i may consider not letting her go.

also, would a normal vet for pets accept this animal????

thanks for your opinions evry1!!