Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My first question is in reference to diet. I have a spectacled caiman who has a diet which mainly consits of rats and fish. I fed him a boneless, skinless chicken breast that I picked up at the grocery store. I know nutrients are lost when feeding frozen food such as this, but felt it may be beneficial to add a variety to his diet (also if he eats 1 part chicken to 2 parts rats, it would also cut some spending). Is raw chicken okay for my caiman? Also is this a good suppliment, I would appreciate any recomendations.

My second question pertains to his enclosure. Presently he is just under 4 feet in length and for the time being has a suitable enclosure (6 foot water area/14 foot enclosure). I am expanding the water area and have drawn up a few plans. Has anyone used pond liners? I am afraid he would tear the rubber liner and was wondering if anyone has experienced this, and secondly if there are any suggestions as to substrait I could use to prevent this. I have a couple of ideas, but would appreciate any suggestions.

I'll see if I can help out some...

"I know nutrients are lost when feeding frozen food such as this, but felt it may be beneficial to add a variety to his diet (also if he eats 1 part chicken to 2 parts rats, it would also cut some spending). Is raw chicken okay for my caiman?"

Feeding raw chicken is perfectly fine for your caiman and yes it is a bit cost effective that way as well. It's good that you are feeding it whole food items as that will be its main source of everything it needs, however, just be sure that if you ever decide to switch over and feed exclusively chunk meat, then you will need to supplement it with a calcium dust, otherwise you can end up with a calcium deficiency. I also suppose it wouldnt hurt for you to do so with your chunk meat from time to time, even if you are feeding it with rats additionally.

"I am expanding the water area and have drawn up a few plans. Has anyone used pond liners? "

Are you referring to the hard preformed pond liners, or the light plastic sheet that you can spread over the entire area of the pond?

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

Thank you for the feed back. I will absolutely take measures to ensure he gets the calcium he needs (as well as vitamin A, U.V. Light, etc.). I was referencing the formable pond liners which can be molded to fit a specific shape, not the preformed type. My idea for the water area is to expand it so that it is large enough for him as an adult. It was said "I never personaly had any problems with the liner tearing but I have heard nothing good about using these and now I would not use one." I'd be interested to know what types of bad things. I'm looking to go a bit larger than any preformed ponds or plastic pools I could find in my area, and the pond liner is really the only idea I came up with. I really, really don't want to use concrete and have absolutely no skill w/fiberglass or the like. Are there any other alternatives you guys use when the crocodilians get larger? I got a above ground circular pool with a 14' diamater and 4.5' height, which is the current enclosure. Inside the pool i have a land area and two plastic pools 6' in diamater inside one another to provide a thicker bottom. After observing how torn the inground pool liner is from Buddy (that's my caiman's name) walking on it I have reservations about the liner idea, but at the same time want to provide him with the room he needs.

I used the pond liner (not the preformed plastic pond) many years ago to house crocodilians up to 5ft, they are quit thick and I never personaly had any problems with the liner tearing but I have heard nothing good about using these and now I would not use one.

We are building a enclosure now, well over the last couple weeks, we were going to use one of the performed plastic ponds, but we ended up going with a thick heavy square plastic kiddy pool from toysrus instead, this pool is actually just as thick as the pond and provides more water area as its 7ft x 5ft. The pond was 18" tall/deep, where as the pool is only 12" tall/deep ... this was better for us also because we only have to fill in about 9-10 inches of dirt and other substance around the pool rather that 16" or so using the pond.