Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Please take a look at this picture. I think my nile croc. is sick. What should i do about it ? Is it serious ? Thanks

Other than the fact that he is acting much calmer than I would think a Nile croc would, what exactly is his behavior? A picture isn't going to tell us everything. What is his water temperature? Basking temperature? What is his diet? And most importantly, what is he doing (or not doing) that makes you feel he is "sick".

Chris

>>Please take a look at this picture. I think my nile croc. is sick. What should i do about it ? Is it serious ? Thanks
>>
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League
www.uappeal.org

I dont know. I guess it is a bit calmer than when i first got it a month ago. But thats only until i show it some food, then its back to normal, agressive and energetic and everything. I handle it daily for a total of 30 minutes with some periods of rest in between. The enclosure is 3 times as big as the crocodilian is ( 35 cm ). The air temperature is pretty warm and the water temp is about 28 celsius. Sometimes i let it out of the enclosure to take walks in the room which is warm and has parquet flooring ( which isnt so cold ). I didnt get to install a basking lamp yet unfortunately. I feed it raw meat and goldfish once every two days. Ive installed a water filter in there and i think the water stays clean enough but sometimes i see it scratch but its not that frequent ( ive only seen it scratching 3-4 times ever since i got it ). Any ideas/suggestions ?

If I were you I would rethink everything I was doing with this animal. Did you get this animal as a pet you expected to become an animal you could interact with daily?

What I wouldn't do:

1. Handle it for 30 minutes daily. In my experience handling a crocodilian is very stressful and many(if not most) don't respond well to it.

2. I wouldn't let it out for walks for much the same reason.

3. It needs a basking lamp. If you've had this animal a month and haven't installed one yet you have neglected a basic aspect of this animals husbandry.

4. The way I read it the animal is at 82.4 continuously. Thats ok for water temp but it needs to be able to elevate it's BT.

5. Your diet is essentially a stop gap diet. One that should be used only for brief periods when nothing else is available. You should switch to better items such as whole animals or prepared diets.

6. Crocodilians scratch sometimes that is perfectly normal. Just like we do.

If you make these changes your croc will grow in a more healthy manner and be essentially bulletproof. Otherwise he we eventually suffer deficiencies and poor health.
Nile Crocodile information

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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

I totally agree with Chris, especially in Point 1.....

Hey Chris, hows it going? Is that your website "crocodile encounter"?

Best Regards,
Donny

Yeah it's in the formative stages. The Crocodile Encounter aspect/link is primarily for people in the Houston area who partake of our educational shows. The rest is for the benefit of private crocodile keepers. I want it to be more of a hands-on practical website based on the actual experience of private keepers. Hence the name 'The Crocodile Experience'.

How have you been? I keep hearing bits and pieces of your croc activities through the crocophile grapevine but haven't had a good talk with you for some time.

You should give me a call or vice versa.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

Pretty cool, im sure your new site will offer some great info, keep up the good work! I really like that name also "Crocodile Encounter" .... I actually thought about that name years and years back, I think that name would be great for a Croc Park!

I have been good (thanks) and I hope all is good with you!, you know me I always have some crocolicious activities in the works, your name keeps coming up here and there in the croc grapevine as well, small world, yes we should BS sometime!

Ive installed a lamp for it and im feeding it goldfish and minnows. Im not going to feed it chicken or turkey because of the birdflu as uncooked bird meat is really dangerous nowadays. You didnt really take a look at the picture did you ? Notice the dryness that appears on the head after the croc dried up. As for the temperament thing i dont know... It doesnt seem to be that agressive to me, but if someone else tried to place his hand in the enclosure or approach it it'll give a pretty nasty bite. It also gets quite energetic and hyper when i place a fish in its enclosure as it tries to chase it all around the enclosure. Im mainly concerned about the dryness on its head (white). Commenting on point 1, ive seen alot of people handling crocodilians for over an hour per day in order to tame them and in the end they really do become a bit more tame to them. Why do some people emphasize on handling them for extended periods while others say not to ?. Cheers

>>Ive installed a lamp for it and im feeding it goldfish and minnows. Im not going to feed it chicken or turkey because of the birdflu as uncooked bird meat is really dangerous nowadays.

Bird flu should have no effect on your crocodile.

You didnt really take a look at the picture did you ? Notice the dryness that appears on the head after the croc dried up.

Is the croc able to submerge completely? Is it able to place it's head under the water if it wishes to do so? Do you have any heat sources that the croc has direct contact with?

As for the temperament thing i dont know... It doesnt seem to be that agressive to me, but if someone else tried to place his hand in the enclosure or approach it it'll give a pretty nasty bite.

Different crocodilians can have different responses to various situations. As always, you should put a level of caution in handling your animal.

Commenting on point 1, ive seen alot of people handling crocodilians for over an hour per day in order to tame them and in the end they really do become a bit more tame to them. Why do some people emphasize on handling them for extended periods while others say not to ?.

The fact of the matter is "Stress". Most crocodilians really don't appreciate handling and you are actually stressing the animal out more by doing so. However, there are those that tolerate it more than others. On this topic there are about as many different opinions as there are people to give them to you. Personally, I would make sure that you animal is calm while handling. If you allow your animal to struggle during times of handling and trying to force him into submission, you are causing the build up of lactic acid in the crocs blood, which can be quite fatal if too high of amounts enter the bloodstream..

Best Wishes,

Chris
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League
www.uappeal.org

Yep .. the croc has a deep water level that gradually goes to a shore then land. He is able to submerge himself fully yet i dont understand why this dryness appears on the top of his head. The only heat sources he can be in close contact with are the water heaters but they arent even that hot ( 28 Celcius ) and he never goes near them.

Commenting on point 1, ive seen alot of people handling crocodilians for over an hour per day in order to tame them and in the end they really do become a bit more tame to them. Why do some people emphasize on handling them for extended periods while others say not to ?.

I think you missing the point here a little. I have also seen crocodilians become 'tame' from handling. My view is that this is ultimately pointless and more often counter productive to the animals health and general well being.

1.If you handle it for 30-60 minutes daily your subjecting the animal to alot of stress. He may get used to it but more than likely will go into a generalized shut down.

Is that the kind of 'pet' you really want? An animal that is essentially a husk of itself.

2. It's pointless. A healthy Nile crocodile will quickly weigh more than you can easily carry. These animals become conditioned to your presence and activities without holding them for 30-60 minutes daily.

3. In my experience, and I'm sure there are exceptions, the vast majority of handled crocodilians exhibit some form of stress related slow growth. Again I'm not sure why anyone would do it.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'