Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright I am in the final stages of researching these awesome creatures. My question is about their traits. I know they are not friendly nor do they tame easily, but it seems as if everything I read says they are beasts and extremely mean/almost like they are out to get the hand that feeds them. Are these crocodilians (extremely aggressive) meaning soon as your hand goes in the tank they are charging you to bite or lunging to clamp down on your hand? Or does this extremely aggressive characteristic mean you can't have them lay on your lap while you watch tv? I take this aggressive term used for them meaning they dont like to be held, and will put up a fight, but then again I do not have one yet! Thankyou for all your help if you would like to email me about your experiences with them please feel free!
creepycreatures03@msn.com

I told her "its not my snake"

everything I read says they are beasts and extremely mean/almost like they are out to get the hand that feeds them. Are these crocodilians (extremely aggressive) meaning soon as your hand goes in the tank they are charging you to bite or lunging to clamp down on your hand? Or does this extremely aggressive characteristic mean you can't have them lay on your lap while you watch tv? I take this aggressive term used for them meaning they dont like to be held, and will put up a fight,

They really don't have the ability to be "mean", rather they are very shy animals who are protecting themselves from what they perceive as a threat to their safety. They will 99% of the time, go the other way if they have the chance and avoid contact. If, on the other hand, they have to choice, they will most often come out fighting. Some people call this aggressive behavior, I call it defensive behavior. When you reach into the habitat to pick it up, you are doing exactly what eons of instinct have told it to be afraid of.

That having been said, here is one that is like a baby to this 70 /- year old woman who owns it.

Long story, but this lady is kind of a Dr. Doolittle to the various caimans she has owned over the years.

In the end, my advise would be to pass on this type of animal if you are looking for one that will tame down enough for you to be able to pick it up at will and casually hold it in your lap.

Bill

That sure is an unusual photo. I would expect Ms. Doolittle to have many more scars on her arms, hands and face, missing fingers etc.

Great post Bill. And cool picture. I hope nobody had the gall to inform that woman that her caimans couldn't possibly be "tame", lol.

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>>They really don't have the ability to be "mean", rather they are very shy animals who are protecting themselves from what they perceive as a threat to their safety. They will 99% of the time, go the other way if they have the chance and avoid contact. If, on the other hand, they have to choice, they will most often come out fighting. Some people call this aggressive behavior, I call it defensive behavior. When you reach into the habitat to pick it up, you are doing exactly what eons of instinct have told it to be afraid of.
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>>That having been said, here is one that is like a baby to this 70 /- year old woman who owns it.
>>
>>
>>
>>Long story, but this lady is kind of a Dr. Doolittle to the various caimans she has owned over the years.
>>
>>In the end, my advise would be to pass on this type of animal if you are looking for one that will tame down enough for you to be able to pick it up at will and casually hold it in your lap.
>>
>>Bill
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"Half of my enemies are dead.... I have yet to meet the other half." [Ghengis Kahn]

"He was such a sweet boy, always so nice. He used to help me take out my garbage every Friday." [Jeffery Dahmer's neighbor]

"Sure,... you say that now. But what will you say when you are looking into my dark, merciless eyes." [Walter Wego]

"Charlie won because we never knew where he was. We had superior numbers, but he had stealth, patience, and sheer determination to prevail. We lost the moment we decided to engage, only it took us 10 years to lie down and die." [General Enevi Tability on the Vietnam war]

I'm not going to touch that "tame" issue with a 10 foot pole

Bill

How about with a 10 foot gator? jk. (i couldn't resist)

>>I'm not going to touch that "tame" issue with a 10 foot pole
>>
>>Bill
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"Half of my enemies are dead.... I have yet to meet the other half." [Ghengis Kahn]

"He was such a sweet boy, always so nice. He used to help me take out my garbage every Friday." [Jeffery Dahmer's neighbor]

"Sure,... you say that now. But what will you say when you are looking into my dark, merciless eyes." [Walter Wego]

"Charlie won because we never knew where he was. We had superior numbers, but he had stealth, patience, and sheer determination to prevail. We lost the moment we decided to engage, only it took us 10 years to lie down and die." [General Enevi Tability on the Vietnam war]

I agree with Bill totally.I have owned a lot of different crocodilians,and most of them can't be tamed.I have a dwarf caiman that I can stoke behind the head,and she likes it,but as soon as I take her out of her elements,it is a whole other story.One crocodile that I beleve that will always go after you is a cuban croc.These animals make any other crocodilian a push over,in terms of tameness.An alligator has one of the best temperament,but they get big

Mike