Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to see if a dwarf caiman woul be able to get out of this fence. It is 2.5 feet tall with 2 x 10's shaped like a lower case N. I had this previously as a fence for tutles but i would like to get a caiman during the summer and I would like to know of any changes I should make it taller or what. I know they can and will try to dig out i can fix that though. I have researched and researched on these animals and know pretty much all I need to know ecept this one thing.
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Justin

Crocodilians can climb short fences. construct the fence with an overhanging lip to prevent it from climbing over. Better yet would be to have a screen lid completely over the top - a little caiman would be a tasty treat for some larger birds, raccoons, and neighborhood cats.

Bill

thanks. I can't really do the screen ting because the whole area is around 20' x 10'. Been a while since i made it and that was the last I measured it so i cant remember the exact measurements. The fence although short does hav and "over hang". i will try to posta pic tomarrow. I'm kinda sleepy and in a hurry right nnow so i'm having terrible grammar. i plan to get one about 3 1/2 ' long at the dixe reptile show in Birmingham, Alabama. I do have one quetsion about that. Is it hard to get one that size that is wild caught to eat. if you really think that its a bad idea i'll try to get one of the smaller ones. If I do get one of the wildcaught ones it will be an extremely healthy individual and active. Last show i spotted one individual who looked in great shape, but I had already got broke on the snakes and had only $3 of spending money. it was about 1.5'. If it is still there next show I'll prob. get it.
well thannx for the help and merry xmas.
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Justin

>>Posted by: Justin Stricklin at Thu Dec 25 23:41:18 2003
thanks. I can't really do the screen ting because the whole area is around 20' x 10'.

An escape is one of the worst things that can happen to you, your animal and the serious crocodilian keeping community. You should have several "lines of defense," so if one fails the animal is still contained in another. If you can't afford to house the animal safely, securely and humanely, don't get it at all.

One of my alligator enclosures is 20x20, and I have a screen over the entire area, even though the fence is over 6'. This is not only to prevent escapes, but also to make it harder for intruders or children to get in and "accidentally" be bitten or injured. Just use some kind of joists to prevent the screen from sagging in the center.

>> i plan to get one about 3 1/2 ' long at the dixe reptile show in Birmingham, Alabama. I do have one quetsion about that. Is it hard to get one that size that is wild caught to eat.

If you find a caiman of any size that was legally imported, it will have been in the country for several years. That said, large caimans frequently refuse food for a period after being moved. I have a friend who used to move his adult pair outside during the warm months. Every summer they would stop eating for several weeks after going outside, and every fall they would stop eating for a similar amount of time after coming back in.

Sounds to me like this guy needs to get some appropriate housing set up BEFORE purchasing the animal. Makes sense, right?

Oh, do not worry if i get a big one I will get the housing equipment and everything before i get the animal. I'll get it fixed real soon. I think I'll get a smaller one. It will not be put in the same enclosure of cource . i'll set it up in a large tub with some sort of wire or screen covering. It would prob. be better to get a small one for so many other easond to. I don't buy something I can't take care of so i know i'll make the right decision. Thanx everyone for the help.
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Justin