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Tempset   Simbaah   Bam  
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 #1573098


Tempset
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 Listless Caiman

We purchased a dwarf caiman about 3-4 weeks ago. Feeding response is positive with feeder rosey red fish.

100% aquatic environment with a 1/2 log sticking out of the water for basking under a 150watt heat lamp. The water is filtered with little "whisper" brand cartridge based filtration system. Carbon is used.

Tonight, my wife came home from spending the day with her mom and wanted to show the caiman to her. she picked up the caiman and the little guy showed barely any signs of life. when turned upside down to check for discoloration on belly, he wiggled a little (not much). She returned him to his 30gal habitat and placed him on his basking log. he lay flat against the log but keeps his head a tiny bit elevated.

Any ideas or recommendations are appreciated!
01/08/08  12:02am

 #1578396


Simbaah
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   Message To: Tempset   In reference to Message Id: 1573098


 Listless Caiman

Thats strange, the caiman was eating well but later barely moving, has he been checked for worms, is he skinny or have you seen little worms in his waste in the water? The caiman should be plump, not really skinny, try mazuri pellets or turtle pellets and cricketts as well and check it out for worms, make sure the temperature is 80 or above, you may need a UVB red heat light, crocodilians wont move much when they are cold. Now just to let you know dwarf caiman can be a very lazy species and they stay still alot but most will try to bite and go bezerk when you pick them up. None of this could be the cause but its good to check, it could be some kind of infection as well. Peace
01/14/08  01:41pm

 #1578427


Bam
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   Message To: Simbaah   In reference to Message Id: 1578396


 Listless Caiman

It could be a lack of UVA/UVB or calcium.
01/14/08  02:27pm


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