Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm here in Idaho wanting to get a new herp!
Has any one had experience with Diamond reptile breeders and their "tame caimans? If so, I would love to hear about your experience and if you would recomend them.
Thanks alot
Nate

Nate,
I had 2 Diamond Caimens I purchased in April. Within 2 weeks the male died for no known reason, and the female is terribly nasty. I had a very knowlegable Herp. Vet here in NY perform an autopsy on the dead male to see what had happened. No results. I was present for the proceedure, and having a pretty good knowlege of internal biology of crocodilian species, we found nothing to be wrong. Could have been a freak thing. The female is not very nice at all though. She never got along with the male. I handle her daily as well as my Alligators, and she does not tolerate it as well. The gators are much tamer than she is. She feeds like crazy, and I was begining to believe that she was just being food aggressive. She is 3 times larger now than when I purchased her, but the attitude is the same. This may not be true of all of them as they will have varying personalities. Every animal even from the same species or clutch will have different personalities and temperments. I do like the Diamond Caimens however, and of the dozen or so people I know that have them, there feelings are mixed. They do stay smaller than most crocodilian species, but in the end it is what it is. Good luck with your decision. E-mail me and I can show you picks of my female. She is getting big fast.
Good luck,
Chris

I think its funny that anyone, particularly the actual breeder states that these hybrids are bred to be pets. I don't think anyone should consider any crocodilian as a "pet". I guess we all have our own definitions of a pet. In my experience, spec's are usually quite rambuctious. I have had several of them in previous years. Not one of them was ever even close to "tame". I have no personal experience with Yacare's though. Maybe combining the two can somehow miraculously make tame animals =). If ya want a more relaxed animal...try an american alligator...those are fairly decent, but require lots of space. If ya don't have the space, try a dwarf...they may be fiesty...but remains small ( as far as crocdilians go ). Oh well, I rambling...good luck with your decision.

HI'
You suggested I try a dwarf.
Are dwarfs any "tamer" than other caimans or does it all depend on the individual personality and the amount of handling?
Thanks
Nate

...............that is repeated over and over in this forum.

Unfortunately IMHO it is one that is also misleading. 'Diamond' caiman are captive bred, this much is true. What I cannot for the life of me understand is how people think they are bred to be pets?

If I cross a western diamondback rattlesnake with a pygmy rattlesnake(not saying this is possible just a simple illustration) I can say the resulting hybrid was 'bred to be a pet' but would I be correct? It's still a dangerous animal in no way, shape or form domesticated.

The truth is spectacled caiman can be very aggressive, in fact, most are unruly. Yacare' caiman are very closely related to the spectacled caiman, so much so that they had been thought to be the same species and then a subspecies in the past.One must remember that species classifications are for human usage and the animals may not realize they are different at all.

So what does all this mean? At best you are getting a form of the spectacled caiman with all it's attributes and advantages(and there are many). At worst it is a hybrid of a spectacled caiman and a very closely related species with it's attributes and advantages. But is it anything new or different with attributes a spectacled caiman wouldn't have, I seriously doubt it.

However the fact they are captive bred, cared for well, and have known genetic backgrounds makes them potentially good crocodilian captives. Just don't go off imagining them as something they shouldn't be thought of as being. Like a true domesticated 'pet'.

CDieter
'Reason, observation, experience; the holy trinity of science- R. Ingersoll

I was just wondering where in Idaho you are? I was raised in Twin Falls and spent alot of time in Boise. =)

Hey,
I live in Pocatello.
I have some family that live in Twin Falls.
Ya ever heard the name Scotts?
Well let me know.
Nate

Sorry Nate, the Scotts aren't familiar. I can ask my father if he knows any though. He is still there. Talk to you later.