While I too can a test to having issues finding caecilians they do turn up now and again. They seem to turn up during summer months in U.S. I am sure I am late to the party but this is no way to aide the hobby or the discipline of herpetology. You guys were pessimist at best. There are some organizations out there that are attempting breeder programs i.e amphibian ark,a few Universities and zoos. I would say stay on the hunt and read all you can and complete a set-up before you purchase. In my exp the West African species like acidic loamy soil and do not like it as wet. I also kept them room temp and fed European night crawlers. There is a learning curb to keeping caecilians. So in some respect I do agree with the others this is a species for the well informed keeper. Please continue your trek and do your research. Good Luck!!!!
Hold on Yama, I did not say caecilians do not turn up. They do turn up in the late spring and early summer here in the US. I said CAPTIVE-BRED caecilians do not turn up, which is not pessimistic, it is true. There are some institutions out there that are ATTEMPTING to breed caecilians, and one university in Germany that has had limited success. Here is the thing about zoos and universities: Animals such as caecilians born in zoos and universities tend to STAY in zoos and universities. A perfect example of this is the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center at the University of Kentucky and axolotls. Axolotls are quite common, but unless you are a zoo, university, or similar institution, you are not getting an axolotl from the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center. You can't just go to a zoo and ask for some captive-bred caecilians.
Also, zoos and universities have a lot more resources than the common exotic amphibian breeder; they have the space for and means to obtain sizable groups of caecilians to start with. With the current lack of information on caecilians diseases and breeding techniques, it is impractical and nearly impossible for the private individual or company to breed caecilians for the exotic amphibian hobby.
Now, having said all this, I certainly encourage people to enter the caecilian keeping hobby! My intention was not to discourage Hayden from keeping caecilians, but to explain why it is not possible at this time to acquire captive-bred caecilians. By all means, give caecilian keeping a try! But do not expect to find captive-bred caecilians.