Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My baby caiman, about a foot long has been feeding very well for the last month. He has had 2 guppies, 14-16 large worms (nite crawlers from petsmart), 2 goldfish (just to see if he was hungry), and one robo dwarf hamster. After he had the hamster, I noticed that he has a few white patches on the side of his mouth and some on his head. He stays in the water 99% and comes out to bask for about 1%. Any idea what the patches are ? Do you see anything wrong with his diet ?

How can I attach his pictures on here ? I dont see an attach button.

Thanks !

here are the pixs of the patches. thanks.

http://snap.tbo.com/user/member_gallery_photos.php?gallery=314599

Looks liked he got scraped up...Was the hamster alive? Are there large rocks in the enclosure? The pics are a bit blurry but it does look like scrapes...

Charles - No, I wouldnt think so. The hamster was alive in water for less than 2 minutes. The caiman skinned it the first night and then ate it the 2nd day. Only the skin of the hamster was left when I cleaned his enclosure. There are very medium sized pebbles in the enclosure. Its definitely not cut or bruised. I observed it very carefully today. It has white 'paint' marks on its lower bottom. Caiman skin problem ? How can I post a picture here in the forum ? Anyone know ?

Did you ever get a fecal test done? Have you changed your water temp to a proper temp?
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John Vandegrift

I have a submerged water heater in his enclosure. His water temperature has always been 86 degrees or sometimes 88 degress for the past month. Never lower than 85 for sure. He is still eating pretty good. Just the white paint patches over his head, make me wonder if they ever have skin issues (?)

To answer your question, YES, crocodilians in general..not just caiman CAN get skin "issues". These are typically referred to as infections. However, these typically result from unsanitary conditions. Your water temps are TOO HIGH. How often does your Caiman Bask? If it's practically never, the main problem is that he always feels warm enough in the water that he doesn't feel the need to bask to raise his body temperature.

Skin issues CAN (doesn't necessarily mean that they will) occur if the animal doesn't remove themselves from the water on a regular basis in order to dry out. Drying out also helps kill possible bacteria on their skin that survive by staying submerged in water. I would recommend dropping your water temp down to approx. 78-80 degrees.

Chris

>>I have a submerged water heater in his enclosure. His water temperature has always been 86 degrees or sometimes 88 degress for the past month. Never lower than 85 for sure. He is still eating pretty good. Just the white paint patches over his head, make me wonder if they ever have skin issues (?)
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My Website
www.herpfanatic.com

Goini04 - yeap, he nevers basks and I think your right, the main reason being he is happy with the very warm water. I got him a basking float, but he hides underneath it to feel safe, he wont sit on it I used to have the temp at 76 or 78 and he never ate. Thats why I pumped it up to 86-87 degrees for his PBT. I will observe for a few more days and then lower the temperature. Thanks!

WHY would you wait to lower his water temp?? As stated you have it too high, it is not that the caiman is happy with it being too high it just may not feel the need to dry out and sun but infact it does. I do not think staying at a constant high temp is healthy. It needs to be able to warm up during the day by basking and at night retreat to its cooler water. This is just my opinion so if anyone disagrees please chime in

Yesterday I lowered the temp to 82 degrees. It used to be 85-87 before. Hopefully the lil guy will come out and bask more By the way, the small white patch on the side of his mouth has cleared up. I think it was the hamster he ate. Something must have been up with that robo dwarf hamster (maybe what the hamster might have been fed).

82 is still a bit high. Why do you refuse to keep him at the correct temp??? 78-80 is where the temp NEEDS to be. You should aslo really think about getting a fecal done.
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John Vandegrift

Its 80 ! - lowered it more. He came up to bask the other day. Pretty cool. Then he ran into the water when he saw me. Bummer.

I don't think your problem was related to water temps. I think your water temp was fine at 82. Around 81 to 88 F is fine. In fact I find 80 for a young caiman a little on the cool side.

Crocodilians will regulate themselves as long as you give them choices. As an example of this here in Texas we have brutally hot summers. Our Nile crocodiles will submerge during the day and come onto land after the sun sets into the cool night air. The exact opposite of what they do the rest of the year.
Nilecrocs

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

Thanks for the feedback CDieter. I enjoyed visiting your webpage a few weeks back. I think it was the hamster that the croc ate(I am not sure what the hamster was being fed). His small white patch disappeared and he seems to be doing great. He eats pretty well. Let me see if the patches comes back.