Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ive had a caiman for more than a year now. Ive been feeding it everything from chicken,chicken liver, meat, mice and chicks. I keep him in a 50 gallon tank.But it seems like hes not growing. Does it have anything to do with the size of the tank?What could it be?

How frequently are you feeding it? What is the primary food item you feed it? How warm is it being kept?

Growth is dependent on the quantity and quality of the nutrition, the proper temperatures the animal is kept at (for efficient processing of the nutrients), other possible health issues such as parasites, genetics, and even the temperature variants, and at what stage they occurred during incubation. Generally the first two are what would cause the growth variable in juvenile crocodilians.

You don't say what size or species it is, but in general for a young croc, feed it all it wants to eat (preferably whole animals), two to three times a week minimum, keep the water temps in the low to mid 80's F (82-86), provide a basking area that is up to about 100 deg F. at the hot spot, and keep the ambient air temp in the mid to upper 80's F during the day, allowing it to cool to the 70's at night. In addition, be sure to provide a day/night light cycle and hide spots in the tank to help alleviate as much stress as possible.

If you have not read the FAQ at crocodilian.com yet, do so - it is linked at the on this page.

Good luck,

Bill

How much food should be offered to a 14" Dwarf
Caiman every week? Also, how long will I be able
to only feed him crickets and feeder fish? How
long until I can feed stuff like chicken livers
etc. etc.?? Thanks in advance!!

jd4_42

How much food should be offered to a 14" Dwarf
Caiman every week?
As much as it will eat. Unless of course it is getting fat. In that case cut the feedings back a little.

Also, how long will I be able
to only feed him crickets and feeder fish? How
long until I can feed stuff like chicken livers
etc. etc.?? Thanks in advance!!
Your previous post said that you feeding him "mice, chicks, chicken livers etc." So I don't really understand the question. However how large the prey items are depends on the size of the caiman. I usually try to avoid feeding items more than half the length of the head of crocodilian in question and no wider than the heads width. Its that plain and simple. I do hope I haven't mistaken your question though. I don't know if you are feeding the diet you mentioned earlier or only crickets and feeder fish as indicated in your latter post but if the latter rather than the former you should add some sort of small rodent(pinkie mice, rats, gerbil, etc.) to the diet of your caiman to insure a reasonable supply calcium is present in the diet of the previously mentioned animal or soft bones and deformation could result. If you knew this and I read your post wrong my apologies.

Seth

"Your previous post said that you feeding him "mice, chicks, chicken livers etc." "

It appears there were two different people asking questions in this thread. Therefore... the second question was legit.

I wouldn't plan on feeding it chicken liver if it were my caiman. I would feed it fishes such as bait shop minnows (not goldfish!!) or whole mice or other whole animals. For a 14" animal hoppers should be the right size. I would feed it three or more per per week till it gets up to the size where it takes adult mice and then cut it down to once or twice.

A diet of organ meat is not good.

Bill

Thanks for the info. Just wondering why I shouldn't
feed gold fish??

Thanks,
jd4_42

Goldfish, along with other members of the carp (and some other species too) family, contain thiminase whick blocks vitamin B. Extreme lack of vit. B can lead to paralysis and death, That said, a few goldfish are not going to hurt anything, but do not use them as a staple food - maybe more for a "treat" and environmental stimulation for the caiman. If you have not done so, read the feeding section of the "Care in Captivity" FAQ at crocodilian.com

Bill

I have offered pinks in the past and for some
reason he hasn't taken them. Do you just keep
it in the land live or in the water?

Thanks,
jd4_42

try letting him get hungrier than usual and then offer the thawed pinkie to him at night, after all the lights are out and the house is quiet. Try putting the pinkie on a little piece of wood or other material that floats and let it sit out in the water - the caiman will find it, just let it be. The pinkie has a different look and smell than the other foods it has been eating so if it isn't hungry, it may not be as willing to try it. You could also scent the pinky with food that the caiman is used to eating - I have not had to do that though.

The young ones can be shy feeders. In time, they reverse that trait and become aggressive feeders. I have to be careful when I feed mine because it will leap out of the water for food offered on tongs.

Bill

Thanks for the info. I will try that tonight.

jd4_42

Its a spectacled caiman bout one foot from snout to tail. I live in the Philippines. I keep the croc outdoors in a 50 gallon tank. Our regular temperature is around 80-85 during the day. He eats well and has a place to hide and a dry area.Does the enclosure have anything to do with the stunning of growth? I feed him uncooked beef, chicken,live mice and occasionally live chicks.

Its a spectacled caiman bout one foot from snout to tail. I live in the Philippines. I keep the croc outdoors in a 50 gallon tank. Our regular temperature is around 80-85 during the day. He eats well and has a place to hide and a dry area.Does the enclosure have anything to do with the stunning of growth? I feed him uncooked beef, chicken,live mice and occasionally live chicks.