Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In one enclosure I have 2 niles, 2 specs, 1 yacare, 1 trig and a female salt. All are between 2.5 and 3.5 feet.
The trig is the smallest at about 2.5 feet. The trig eats about 1 burnt out breeder mouse twice a week. Everyone else is more aggressive but even after they are stuffed and not interested. The trig will still not eat over one big mouse.
I feed mostly chicks and whole rodents(95% of the diet for this tank).
A columbian boa dropped 14 stillborn babies. Perfectly formed, weight, length... I think she may have killed them in the birthing process. They did'nt come out in sacs rather long and straight. Almost like during contractions the sacs
ruptured. Anyway this led to 14 perfect baby boas...dead but perfect. Just the right size for small crocodilians. Not surprisingly the female salt was first up, one of the niles ate a couple. I think the salt was on her third when the trig woke-up. Grabbed hold of the snake and tried to take it from the salt. While niles are king of this behavior this is'nt behavior I usually associate with dwarfs. Especially attacking bigger and more aggressive animals.
After they tore that one in half I gave the dwarf the remaining 6 baby boas. It was'nt just the fact she ate so much (she gorged herself) it was the way she seemed to realish the meal. Which only makes sense. Not only are yellows and greens available in numbers and in the same aquatic environment would'nt it be interesting if they would continue to kill them and not eat them. As if knowing, I don't think I want you to grow up! Danny Conner

and it makes perfect sense as well. I think the thought process among animals is quite amazing, especially animals who are survivors. Even though they have NEVER been exposed to a large constrictor in a natural setting, they still appear to realize that they are "competitors" or moreso "enemies". I am certainly interested in hearing more about these observations in the future, they are quite intriguing. Thanks for sharing!

Chris

>>In one enclosure I have 2 niles, 2 specs, 1 yacare, 1 trig and a female salt. All are between 2.5 and 3.5 feet.
>>The trig is the smallest at about 2.5 feet. The trig eats about 1 burnt out breeder mouse twice a week. Everyone else is more aggressive but even after they are stuffed and not interested. The trig will still not eat over one big mouse.
>>I feed mostly chicks and whole rodents(95% of the diet for this tank).
>>A columbian boa dropped 14 stillborn babies. Perfectly formed, weight, length... I think she may have killed them in the birthing process. They did'nt come out in sacs rather long and straight. Almost like during contractions the sacs
>>ruptured. Anyway this led to 14 perfect baby boas...dead but perfect. Just the right size for small crocodilians. Not surprisingly the female salt was first up, one of the niles ate a couple. I think the salt was on her third when the trig woke-up. Grabbed hold of the snake and tried to take it from the salt. While niles are king of this behavior this is'nt behavior I usually associate with dwarfs. Especially attacking bigger and more aggressive animals.
>>After they tore that one in half I gave the dwarf the remaining 6 baby boas. It was'nt just the fact she ate so much (she gorged herself) it was the way she seemed to realish the meal. Which only makes sense. Not only are yellows and greens available in numbers and in the same aquatic environment would'nt it be interesting if they would continue to kill them and not eat them. As if knowing, I don't think I want you to grow up! Danny Conner
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League
www.uappeal.org

good observation, and it does make perfect sense. i am suprised at how the dwarf snatched food from the saltie. that is pretty bold.

how do they all get along? id like to see some pics sometime, sounds like a nice collection!

greg

When Smiley was younger, maybe about three-feet long, she spotted an extension cord across the room and *ran* across the room to get it. She grabbed it and shoot it violently from side to side (fortunately it was unplugged), and then just as suddenly dropped it and walked away.

...things that make you go hmmmmm

I have not read any stomach content studies done on dwarf caimans to see what percentage of thier diet at a given time of the year is made up of snakes.

Bill