Slow Worm

[mackem 29,520]

Only ever saw that one with blue flecks,i was on a patch of heathland in surrey,some reptile group had scattered numbered corrugated sheeting around to do a reptile survey,i saw grass snakes,slow worms and an adder in a couple of hours.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

You may be right mate ,Females do have a black line down the back

[BGD 6,437]

Always a pleasure to come across our native reptiles and those are some cracking shots pal fair play

 

Blue spotted is a relatively common mutation in males I've seen a couple like it before, you can also get melanistic (black) and albinos in both sexes.

[Neal 1,919]

We're lucky enough to have a few near me too. My daughter has been keeping one as a pet during the summer which we returned to the common today...we decided to keep the four toads though! I think the blue flecks on the males are something which gradually increases with age (they can live to a fair old age in captivity) and the black line on the females goes down the middle of the back. (I think...that's got me thinking now...I'll have to post this and then check in my book...if I can find it).

[ferretess 230]

I have never seen one anywhere apart from in a photo, What size do they sort of grow to ?

[Greyman 31,054]

I have never seen one anywhere apart from in a photo, What size do they sort of grow to ?

generally a foot - 18" is a big one, do they not live in Scotland, or have you just never found them? It's actually a legless lizard as opposed to a snake or worm, that's my slow worm facts for the day

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

As a kid we took them for granted in and around dads compost heap .Havent seen one for 10 year or more .Use to keep several in an old bath tub as well as frogs toads and newts .Once saw a hedgehog eating one at night that was wriggling so assume he caught it .My sister was bitten by a captive slow worm on the back of her hand ,luckily they having got teeth .

[BGD 6,437]

They actually have some quite nasty teeth they're just so small they can't really damage human skin.

 

 

(Not my pic)

[forest of dean redneck 12,009]

Zombie slow worm lol

[Neal 1,919]

As a kid we took them for granted in and around dads compost heap .Havent seen one for 10 year or more .Use to keep several in an old bath tub as well as frogs toads and newts .Once saw a hedgehog eating one at night that was wriggling so assume he caught it .My sister was bitten by a captive slow worm on the back of her hand ,luckily they having got teeth .

I like the idea of the bath tub. My kids and I have been thinking about what to keep them in longer term as the old 3' glass tanks I used when I was younger are extortionate nowadays. I was worrying about it flooding but I suppose that, as long as you place some drainage material around the plug hole you'd be ok.

[Malt 379]

 

 

As a kid we took them for granted in and around dads compost heap .Havent seen one for 10 year or more .Use to keep several in an old bath tub as well as frogs toads and newts .Once saw a hedgehog eating one at night that was wriggling so assume he caught it .My sister was bitten by a captive slow worm on the back of her hand ,luckily they having got teeth .

I like the idea of the bath tub. My kids and I have been thinking about what to keep them in longer term as the old 3' glass tanks I used when I was younger are extortionate nowadays. I was worrying about it flooding but I suppose that, as long as you place some drainage material around the plug hole you'd be ok.

They're good swimmers believe it or not.

[forest of dean redneck 12,009]

 

As a kid we took them for granted in and around dads compost heap .Havent seen one for 10 year or more .Use to keep several in an old bath tub as well as frogs toads and newts .Once saw a hedgehog eating one at night that was wriggling so assume he caught it .My sister was bitten by a captive slow worm on the back of her hand ,luckily they having got teeth .

 

I like the idea of the bath tub. My kids and I have been thinking about what to keep them in longer term as the old 3' glass tanks I used when I was younger are extortionate nowadays. I was worrying about it flooding but I suppose that, as long as you place some drainage material around the plug hole you'd be ok.

Plenty of free or cheap reptile tanks /vivs if you look ,the reptile shop in ross on Wye just got legless lizards in funny looking things.

[Squeamish5 309]

As a kid we took them for granted in and around dads compost heap .Havent seen one for 10 year or more .Use to keep several in an old bath tub as well as frogs toads and newts .Once saw a hedgehog eating one at night that was wriggling so assume he caught it .My sister was bitten by a captive slow worm on the back of her hand ,luckily they having got teeth .

Ah this thread has made me feel so very nostalgic.

Lovely photos. Like others on here, I haven't seen one for years but also kept them (in an old tin bath) when I was little. Felt like forever but it was probs just one or two summers. Happy days.

[ferretess 230]

 

I have never seen one anywhere apart from in a photo, What size do they sort of grow to ?

generally a foot - 18" is a big one, do they not live in Scotland, or have you just never found them? It's actually a legless lizard as opposed to a snake or worm, that's my slow worm facts for the day

 

Yes I live in Scotland I have never found any or seen them apart from in a photo, any time ive been out with the dogs or out ferreting never come across one .

[bell 3,608]

Nice one. I kept one as a kid that went onto give birth to some young. Pretty pittle things they were.