Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my smoothfront for the last about 3 -4 months hasnt been eating much,,,in fact maybe once a month. When he eats he doesnt eat alot either just a strip or two of chicken. He is EXTREMELY fat still and healthy looking, he tail is very thick as is his stomach, he basks and swims a bit, but most of the time he is in his "den" hiding. HE has alot of energy when hes out, always swimming around and evan had enough energy to somehow get out of the cage this morning.I did put him in a new enclosure buit its been long enough for him to adjust, and he seems well adjusted and i beleive likes it better than his last. Is he doing something like hibernating? or should i take him to a vet a.s.a.p
Any help quickly is appreciated
Thanks
Bobby

I think,it might be a hibernating thing,but I would not bank on it,due to the fact,that these caiman come from a region,that doesn't have a true winter,or hibernating wheather.
I have a dwarf caiman,and a dwarf crocodile,and they both cutdown on their eating habits.I dont understand it,but they seem to be doing well.I have had them for 9 years now.Hope this helps. Mike

What are the temperatures within the new enclosure? Do they conform to the temperature requirements given in the Croc FAQ? Are you feeding whole prey items?

It's simple... Start feeding it proper food items, give it appropriate housing, and leave it alone until it starts eating again.

i am feeding him "proper" food items, i like to mix their diet up, rodents, snakes, quail, eggs, deer meat, chicken, rats, mice,rabbits...etc. All raised of course, not wild caught Also , the new enclosure has the Same exact temps in the water and on land, and yes they are the correect ones . Thanks for your help guys