Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Caimans Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area  

Caimans Forum

Whipstaff   Whipstaff   Crocodylus   Whipstaff   Whipstaff   Simbaah   Whipstaff   Crocodylus   Whipstaff   Simbaah   Weeze  
 Member  Message

 #1503985


Whipstaff
View Profile

 Need advice- rescue caimen

Hi- I need some advice. We are an all species rescue, and have been asked to accept a 30 inch caimen. I was told by law enforcement that it was in a drug dealers posession and he was teaching it to be a "guard dog".

I have to pick it up tomorrow.

For an emergency cage, can I keep it in a 250 gallon stock tank with a basking area? We will be building a habitat for it but it will be a few weeks before that is complete?

Do I need a lid on the cage? Can these little guys climb?

I take care of the reptiles here. I currently care for 2 fully mature green iguanas, 2 ball python, 10 foot green anaconda, a 14 foot reticulated python, and 2 red ear sliders. I have worked with reptiles for over 10 years, but this will be my first crocodilian.

Any advice on feeding, care, lighting etc would be greatly appreciated. I keep a colony of mice, and a colony of rats so have that available for feeding. I know that the caimen will need food rotated, and we keep chicken, beef and deer available for our cats, so thats not a problem.

Thank you so much in advance for any assistance you have!
11/06/07  05:25pm

 #1505698


Whipstaff
View Profile



   Message To: Whipstaff   In reference to Message Id: 1503985


 Need advice- rescue caimen

Hi,

I picked up the Caimen today. How can I tell the difference in species of caimen? This fellow is pretty underweight. He was living in a rubbermaid tub and its so small he is curled up in a ball inside.

A store has offered to donate a 6 foot across round stock tank, that can hold 550 gallons of water. The sides are 3 feet tall. We will build a platform area up with rock that he can climb up, with a basking lamp.

Does this animal require a UVA/UVB bulb in addition to the heat lamps? What is the best way to heat the water?

What filtration would be the best? We have a canister filter set up for the turtles, but I don’t think that the flow rate on a canister would work. What about draining the tank weekly and replacing the water in lieu of filtration?

I really appreciate the info. Thank you.
11/07/07  10:01pm

 #1506543


Crocodylus
View Profile



   Message To: Whipstaff   In reference to Message Id: 1505698


 Need advice- rescue caimen

Ok rats rotated with beef chicken sounds good as long as the majority is whole animals they need the bones n such for calcium so the rats should do the trick. I would have some UV just as a precaution although some debate wether or not its neccesary.

Post some pics of the animal and enclosure and i’ll be able to give you a better idea of what you might still need.



11/08/07  05:53pm

 #1519198


Whipstaff
View Profile



   Message To: Crocodylus   In reference to Message Id: 1506543


 Need advice- rescue caimen

We got Amos to eat 6 feeder goldfish and a small (hopper) size rat today. This was his first feeding. I understand that goldfish are not a staple diet, but we had tried many things and this was the first he would try to eat.

His tank is 6 feet across in diameter. I currently have a 400 gph canister filtration system, with 2 inches of gravel on the bottom. He has a foot of water, and is able to completely submerge. He has a floating log and a built up rock area with a small waterfall type fountain to help circulate water. I have a UVA/UVB bulb and a heat bulb over his basking area.

Does he need anything else?
11/18/07  10:03pm

 #1519200


Whipstaff
View Profile



   Message To: Crocodylus   In reference to Message Id: 1506543


 Need advice- rescue caimen

We got Amos to eat 6 feeder goldfish and a small (hopper) size rat today. This was his first feeding. I understand that goldfish are not a staple diet, but we had tried many things and this was the first he would try to eat.

His tank is 6 feet across in diameter. I currently have a 400 gph canister filtration system, with 2 inches of gravel on the bottom. He has a foot of water, and is able to completely submerge. He has a floating log and a built up rock area with a small waterfall type fountain to help circulate water. I have a UVA/UVB bulb and a heat bulb over his basking area.

Does he need anything else?
11/18/07  10:04pm

 #1521753


Simbaah
View Profile



   Message To: Whipstaff   In reference to Message Id: 1519200


 Need advice- rescue caimen

Guard Dog??? If I was in the drug dealers house I would just take the caiman and leave the drugs lol I dont think a caiman would stop anyone from taking the drugs either if they wanted to take them. A Pit Bull would be better to guard anything unless the intruder is afraid of crocs which there is not much reason to fear them unless you are swimming in a swamp, A Pit Bull or anything that barks loud will make most intruders reconsider and choose another house to rob....... The caiman was probly more for show.
11/21/07  02:38am

 #1525793


Whipstaff
View Profile



   Message To: Simbaah   In reference to Message Id: 1521753


 Need advice- rescue caimen

Thank you for Simbaah for your insights on the drug culture.

Does anyone have any more info on the questions I have been asking regarding caring for this caiman? Are there any adults that are on this forum that have actual experience with these animals that can offer some technical assistance?



11/25/07  12:38pm

 #1526143


Crocodylus
View Profile



   Message To: Whipstaff   In reference to Message Id: 1525793


 Need advice- rescue caimen

Everything you have sounds fine for now. However if the Caiman is 30 inches and you enclosure is 6ft. in diameter it won’t be very long before you should find something larger. As far as the general husbandry you seem to have everything right.
11/25/07  06:09pm

 #1526789


Whipstaff
View Profile



   Message To: Crocodylus   In reference to Message Id: 1526143


 Need advice- rescue caimen

I agree, we will need a larger enclosure. However, right now it is too cold outside to pour concrete, put in posts etc, let alone build a proper heated area large enough. He will have to make do with a 6 foot diameter 3 foot deep tank in the basement until spring.
11/26/07  01:28pm

 #1527799


Simbaah
View Profile



   Message To: Whipstaff   In reference to Message Id: 1526789


 Need advice- rescue caimen

My bad, it did sound funny that they used a caiman to guard drugs, I do keep these animals and know about them, you either need a basement or an outdoor enclosure, if you live in a state that has cold winters you will need indoor and outdoor set ups. I would say more but there are plenty other people on the forum that have already helped you. Peace.......
11/27/07  02:27pm

 #1550796


Weeze
View Profile



   Message To: Whipstaff   In reference to Message Id: 1526789


 Need advice- rescue caimen

I know when my caiman was nearing 3 feet he had a foot high jump- watch that. When you get his new home set up I have some advice. Under floor heaters (like those in houses to heat bathroom floors) are a effective way to control surface and water temperature, but hook it up to a thermostat or dimmer switch like everything else. I also found that mine loved currents. I set up power heads on one end of the "river" side and had the filter taking in water on one end and returning to the power head side. He would stay stationary and swim with the current for exercise. Make this a changeable feature because it can cause stress if it is not used to such a thing. Also do you have a top? It needs some humidity to be in the air at all times (not 100% on exact amount though, it’s been a while since mine were given to a better home). I know they absorb a lot of moisture through their skin but humidity helps their respiratory system. Rats, live chicks/small chicken, and bone in beef cuts (butcher shops can provide you with good cuts for them if you ask about it) made up the bulk of the diet, and it worked well. I kept a few dozen goldfish and some small bluegill in with him at all times still, though. Hopefully there are no deformities in it from being improperly housed before you got him. Merry Christmas.

J
12/19/07  12:32am


Back to Caimans Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area