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 #356193


Blue_note
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 Need Help Deciding

I have been thinking about getting a Dwarf Caiman for sometime now. I have read all the recommended care sheets (including the one on RepticZone and Crocodilians.com). I know that those care sheets have been written by people who have experience and I’ve gone through this entire forum, so I’m going to try to avoid asking the same questions that most have answered multiple times. This would be my first Croc. so I just want to get as much info as I can before I get one.

I have seen Bam’s outdoor set-up, which is huge and very very nice, but I live in MO which is going to take an indoor set-up. I was wondering if anyone would have pictures of an in-door set-up for a fairly large Dwarf Caiman? I mean, could you use a large rubbermaid, a small swimming pool (at first, I know that it will most likely grow out of it). Here is a picture of the set-ups I have for my large snakes:



People say that these cannot be tamed, which I’m having trouble understanding, I mean yes there is a chance it will bite you, but if you develop a relationship with it, chances are pretty slim, or am I wrong? I’m saying this because people have also said that Green Anacondas cannot be tamed and yet I have an 8’ Green Anaconda that is a kitten, so that’s why I’m asking. I mean, I would love to have a Dwarf Caiman, but I would also love to keep my fingers during cage cleaning.:)

Me personally, I can see a Caiman being an awesome pet, but I can also see one being hell and painful... So I just want to ask, if you can properly care for one, handle it properly, keep it on a strict feeding schedule, do you think they make good pets?

As far as my last question goes, this is weird, but I think it should be asked more often because you are going to have to clean it. As far as their defication goes, could you give me an idea of how often and how bad it is? I mean I know what my Anacondas can do and it can be a lot, but Crocs are a lot different than snakes.:) If there is any advice for me or anything you think I should know, I would greatly appreciate it.:)
Thanks,
~Ben
- 10’ Female Green x Yellow Anaconda
- 8’ Male Green Anaconda
- 3’ Male Super Tiger Reticulated Python
05/28/05  07:43pm

 #356605


Krokadilyanguy3
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   Message To: Blue_note   In reference to Message Id: 356193


 Need Help Deciding

I have used kiddie pools for animals I unexpectingly obtain, however, the problem with them and caimans is when the first time the animal gets spooked, most of the water will be on your floor.
I have also used a 300g Rubbermaid (Stock tank) with a ramp leading onto an 8x4’ platform.

This worked well for the 3.5’ animal. The ramp provided a secluded area for the animal and the land area gave the animal enough room to wander as it pleased. (This enclosure was a temporary one due to the fact we did not have a shed to put up for this animal when winter came so it had to come indoors. Also, I left the platform pretty much bare.)

As for calming out a dwarf caiman, not likely. There are rare incidents of a docile camain but I don’t recall any of them being Paleosuchus. But if you care to give it a try, just remember many fail so don’t get one with expectations that this’ll be likely.
05/29/05  12:38pm

 #356753


Bam
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   Message To: Krokadilyanguy3   In reference to Message Id: 356605


 Need Help Deciding

Krok is right. There are some that are less aggressive and even docile, but no matter how much you play with it and show it how nice you are, there’s that 250,000,000 years of instinct that tells it to kill you sitting somewhere in its mind.

I wrap my snakes around my neck and my arm and walk all over with them, but I don’t do that with the caiman!

As far as its enclosure, it sounds like you have the right idea, but remember that it needs a swimming area 3 x its body length and a turning area (width) of 2 x its body length and it needs a basking area big enough for it to turn around in. Try a basement or a shed or an unused bedroom. Maybe turn the 2nd bathroom into one large bathtub? How about setting up a greenhouse in the backyard with a heat and light source for the winter?

Good luck. They make awsome pets, as long as you don’t need a pet that will fetch your newspaper or relax in your lap.

Bam
05/29/05  03:06pm

 #1317764


89vision
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   Message To: Blue_note   In reference to Message Id: 356193


 Need Help Deciding

honestly, i would say buy a house with a huge basement, then get a mugger (american alligator) instead. i have two adults that i hand-raised from day-old hatchlings, and they act like dogs. barraka, my eldest male, will even come if you call his name or if he hears his whistle. in ten+ years, i have yet to meet anyone attacked by their pet american, provided that they started young, were gentle, and did not feed live. there are many who would argue with me, but i feel that caimans are a much more aggressive animal, despite their more "manageable" size. consider this...would you rather have an enormous dog tame reptile, or a 4 foot chainsaw with legs? it’s the same thing with monitors...nile’s are smaller than asians, but most of them will bite you at any age. i also have a tame green anaconda, and i think it has to do with the particular individual animal that you adopt. i’ve had iguanas that are awful, and some that will sleep on my lap. i have a tegu that will eat minnows from your palm without hurting you, but i’ve seen come that will eat your foot. don’t buy any reptile without research, a first person introduction, or a really reliable reference. there are way too many crocodillians and other biggies that end up in humane societies or local waterways. if you really are committed, spend the money and time to build what your reptile needs. look into adoption, if you can; i’ll bet you could find a really tame gator if you look for a while, or someone who is selling well-acclimated caimans or dwarf crocodiles. i would also recommend that you research asian water monitors as an awesome alternative to crocodillians...they grow to an impressive size, are semi-aquatic, and can turn into the tamest carnivorous herps on the market. good luck with everything...if you every need advice on your caiman / gator, should you acquire one, feel free to post back, and i will be happy to help you as best as i can...i have been raising reptiles for 20+ years. be sure to read my american alligator care sheet and the others on this page, and do a google search for pet alligators...you’ll find a great site run by this herper named melissa something or other. laters,
pete



06/13/07  11:24pm

 #1320187


Caiman12003
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   Message To: 89vision   In reference to Message Id: 1317764


 Need Help Deciding

Before I comment on the caiman enclosure needs, I’d like to second the advice to get an asian water monitor instead. The Water Monitor is a fabulous pet. They are incredibly intelligent and the males especially act more like dogs than reptiles. I had several Water Monitors heaed up by a huge 6’ male Water Monitor who’d never bite anyone even if they were to bite him! They use their front feet almost like hands, so we had to put our bookshelves up high and double lock the swing doors to the sections of the loft because he’d flip the lever and open the door if it had only one lever closing the swing door.

As for the caiman enclosure we had our house designed and built with them in mind. It has 7 in-ground, indoor 10’ dia. ponds with sufficient area around the ponds to bask. The floors are concrete with radiant heating in the floors. We have six 6’ wide sliding glass doors (3 on either side of our central living area) as entry to the two 20’ wide x 50’ long wings which house the spectacled caimans. This gives you some idea of the space requirements for these large animals. I can’t see a "rubbermaid" pool as something usefull in the long term.

Crocs grow up and you need to plan for the future when they get big. I don’t agree that you have to fear them, provided that you respect their power and never, ever try to intimidate them. They are not pets! They will never be "dog like" but you can develop a relationship with them whereby they aren’t a problem and can be responsive to you. Just check out my comments in previous posts for further information and you might enjoy checking out my photos as well.
06/15/07  07:59pm

 #1320191


CaptainJack
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   Message To: Caiman12003   In reference to Message Id: 1320187


 Need Help Deciding

why would you zombify an old thread?
06/15/07  08:05pm

 #1320521


Caiman12003
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   Message To: CaptainJack   In reference to Message Id: 1320191


 Need Help Deciding

What’s your problem, Captain Jack"? My response wasn’t intended for you. It’s intended for someone apparently new who had a very basic question. Try answering the person’s question rather than being a jerk with your reply to me. By the way, do you have something to add -or- disagree with in terms of my response? Did I say something you disagree with? I’d appreciate a "critique", especially since no one has seriously commented on what I said previously, so I’m not sure that there really is an actual "old thread". I’d be very pleased if there was an "Old thread". Do you want to start a discussion, instead of being a jerk?

Caring for crocs isn’t a simple matter. I’ve had to adopt caimans after people realized that they couldn’t take care of them as they grew and weren’t so cute anymore. Space requirements are just one aspect of croc care. They also require some ability to walk around outside their captive home space so as to at least visually interact with other caimans. They are social creatures, after all, even if that relationship is only one of "threat display" by one male to another male on opposite side of my glass sliding doors and/or guttoral roaring contests that goes from one pond to another pond.

By the way: my pictures show my crocs while they were on the "walkabout" I describe above.
06/16/07  01:24am

 #1323989


CaptainJack
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   Message To: Caiman12003   In reference to Message Id: 1320521


 Need Help Deciding

If you knew why the thread died is because ages ago ben decided to not get one and have more anacondas. so there, if he still needed help he would bump it.



06/18/07  10:20pm

 #1324988


Chris78
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   Message To: CaptainJack   In reference to Message Id: 1323989


 Need Help Deciding

It was a post trying to help - Chill out.
06/19/07  04:50pm

 #1471786


CaimanLOL
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   Message To: Chris78   In reference to Message Id: 1324988


 Need Help Deciding

captain jack is just a nasty old man..hes just too cool. sometimes i wish i was as cool as him
10/08/07  05:47pm


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