Caimans - Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

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#1789313

Itzocaiman
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Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

Hello all,

I just bought a cuvier’s dwarf caiman hatchling born april 1, 2008.I’m having a hard time feeding him.I just got him last thursday and the last time he ate was on saturday.He ate a chunk of beef,Other than that he refuses everything i tried to feed him.He refuses to eat the gizzards chunk of beef and pinkies.So i contacted the seller and they told me they only fed him crickets and goldfish feeders.Is their any way i can stimulate my caiman to eat?Please HELP!!

Meet Chopper

His enclosure

07/10/08 12:50am

#1789370

JusFTW
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Message To: Itzocaiman In reference to Message Id: 1789313

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

Took my guy a few days before he started. He didnt eat the 1st crickets I gave to him but few days later I gave him some rosies and he ate them all over night.

I just threw them in the water but your tank gots alot of water. It will be hard for him to catch fish in there. I’d say toss a couple rosies in a small tupperware, a clear 1 so he can see them swimming around inside. Leave them in for a few days. Almost positive he’ll eat them up. Try some large crickets aswell but I would wait till after a few fish feedings so he gets used to eating again. After a week or so of feeding him fish try tossing a few crickets and see if he goes for them.

Good Luck. BTW I posted a nice idea to your post on the RFUK forums, if you havent seen it yet.

-Justin

07/10/08 02:34am

#1789476

Itzocaiman
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Message To: JusFTW In reference to Message Id: 1789370

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

Thanks for the jusFTW,
I took out half of the water so their should be at least 20-25 gallon in the tank now.So do you think he is only able to eat crickets and feeder fish at this time?The pinkie that i left in their ended up drowning.He did’nt eat it so i just tossed it out.Im going to try crickets tonight.

07/10/08 07:59am

#1790134

JusFTW
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Message To: Itzocaiman In reference to Message Id: 1789476

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

He’ll be able to eat pinkies now. The fish swimming in a small clear bowl that he can easily see moving should get him going though. I would say try the small fish and see how it works. If he starts eating the fish try the crickets. If he starts going for them too then your off to the races.

My guy slowly picked up on eating. Took him a few days to start. Started with fish then shortly after crickets. Then after about a month I started giving him pinkies & fuzzies. Now he eats anything I throw in there and hes allways ready and willing to eat. I still feed him a few fish & crickets weekly but the majority of his diet is pinkies & fuzzies. I use F/T cause their easier to keep. I havent gave him any meat of anykind yet, only whole prey items so far. Maybe when he gets bigger I will but sticking with fish, crickets and mice for now.

Good Luck and keep us updated =)

Justin

07/10/08 04:55pm

#1790204

Itzocaiman
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Message To: JusFTW In reference to Message Id: 1790134

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

I have feeder fish in their already i’m about to go to the petstore in a little bit and pick up some adult crickets.do you have any pictures of your caiman and how big is he/her?

07/10/08 05:52pm

#1790433

Itzocaiman
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Message To: Itzocaiman In reference to Message Id: 1790204

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

Finally! I sEE Some feeding activity going on.He frickin ate some damn crickets.Hopefully he will eat pinkies and hoppers.

07/10/08 08:50pm

#1790557

Itzocaiman
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Message To: Itzocaiman In reference to Message Id: 1790433

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

so earlier today i fed him a mouse and some crickets to see wich one he would eat.He did not hesitate to eat the crickets at all.Then a hour pass and i find the hopper in his mouth,so im like o.k cool he has an appitite.then again i check on him he has the hopper in the water underneath him.Haa haa he cracks me up i don’t know whats wrong with this fella?

07/10/08 10:04pm

#1790721

JusFTW
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Message To: Itzocaiman In reference to Message Id: 1790557

Paleosuchus palpebrosus Hatchling

Sounds great, glad to hear hes starting to eat for you. Give him some time he’ll eat the pinkies. He might be having a hard time swallowing. Try cutting off all the pinkies legs, that might help him get it down.

I have a few pics of mine on this site but that was a few days after I got him. Since then ive upgraded him to a 100g aquarium(72x18x17). I had him in a 29g (36x12x17) but he out grew that very fast. Only had him in there for about a month. When I get a new digital camera I will post some new pics. I’d also like to make a video to but im a cheap egghead. =)

Links to pics:
http://www.repticzone.com/forums/Caimans/messages/1615696.html
http://www.repticzone.com/forums/Alligators-Crocodiles/messages/1628745.html

Justin

07/11/08 12:10am