Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to build our own external filtration system for a caiman who has a pool that is 3ftW x 4ftL x 1.5ftD.

We are looking for something that isn't too complicated, but works efficiently.

Any suggestions on how to do this, or where to find instructions on how to do this?

thanks for your help...

Kim
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Kim

Hello,

There is actually an individual in here that designed one himself which is an external filter. He posts under, "BigTank", and his name is Rick. You can find one of his posts and contact him directly via email and I am sure he would be more than happy to help you.

Hope this helps,

Chris
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Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

hi Kim...

as Chris said, I biult my own external filter for a croc pool...

I have a lot of pics of it by the way it was constructed...

if you want I can mail them to you...

hope can help..

elchars1@yahoo.com

good look

Rick

hey Chris, how are you and your gators doing???

Hey Rick,

So far so good. However, I am only down to one gator now. There was entirely too much friction between my two, that I didn't feel that it would be a good idea to keep Evander for much longer. Evander was a rescue, and when I first got him he was very thin and quite mal-nourished. Since then he has gotten much stronger, but he is very food aggressive and doesn't like to share. Furthermore, he is quite territorial. Understanding the size potential between the two, I didn't feel that I would be able to build TWO large enclosures in order to keep them both as adults. If they were able to be housed together without incident, then I wouldn't have had a problem in keeping him as I could just build ONE large enclosure for the two of them to share. However, just due to his personality and him acting naturally, it would make it quite hard and in the end I felt that it would be the animals that were suffering. I felt that while the possibility was better, I decided to place him in a different home. Chris Dieter (Author of: The Ultimate Guide to Crocodilians in Captivity) has taken him and provided him a good home in Texas where I am sure he will be happy.

As for Tyson, he was my first so therefore I will do my absolute best to provide him a good home. Any more crocs obtained from this point forward will have to be of smaller sizes. That is the reason I am considering a dwarf Caiman (preferably palpebrosus) or a dwarf Croc. For the dwarves I should be able to provide them a good indoor enclosure, as where the gator is ultimately going to require an external (but indoor) enclosure if you know what I am saying.

How are all of your crocs doing? I know you have added to your collection. Oh, by the way....did you ever get my email? I sent you one a few weeks ago. I will try resending it if not.

Best Wishes,

Chris
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Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

ohhh, sorry you have to get rid of Evander, but you did the rigth thing giving he a best home with Chris D.

I have a Gator that hope can live with my dwarf nex year, hi is about 15 inches now...

I haven´t mix my crocs yet, they are different sizes, and I don´t want any eaten crocs...

I have seen a dwarf with spectacled and gators, wich were bigger than the dwarf... (look for GOSTFACE) in the photo gallery...

maybe you can help me... I´m also looking for a dwarf croc, but I don´t know if is there any way I can get a permit from US geverment??? I think not...

now I have 1 gator, 1 hypo morelet, 1 spec, 1 dwarf caiman, sold my 2 acutus, and I´ll get another hypo morelet (female) wich is supossed to grow samller then the male...

I didn´t got your mail, this are my mail addss... I check yahoo all days

elchars1@yahoo.com
elchars@hotmail.com
ricardo.mieryreyes@nl.gob.mx

best wishes

rick

Good sounding collection! I have always liked your Dwarf, he looks really good. Have you seen any adult dwarfs housed with other crocs by chance? I have read that Dwarf Caimans are very territorial and dont' quite like sharing space with other crocs. Just a curiosity question. I will most likely pick one up for myself, I am just waiting for that opportune moment.

As far as Evander is concerned, yeah, I hated giving him up. However, like you said, it would be better for him as well as my other gator. I am just glad that Chris was willing to take him in, as I only know one other person here in Ohio that is trustworthy with crocs, and past that I would fear he would fall into the wrong hands and I feel that I would be putting another nail into the coffin of the passion that I deeply enjoy.

With all things considered, things worked out for the best. Besides, he has given me quite a few nice pictures sooo, he will certainly never be forgotten!

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Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

I only have seen some pics from adult dwarfs together in 2 zoos... and dwarfs with bigger caimans or gators...

it´s suposed they live alone or in pairs... but you never know...

I have read about teme dwarfs, wichi is almost imposible...

mail me , so I can mail you back some pics... I have tons of them

good look

rick

I work with 2 female palpebrosus. There definetlly is a hierachy. When we put them on exhibit the more territorial one chased the other around the exhibit even to a point of the more docile one jumping from a ramp, over the feisty ones head, and into the water. Had to be a 5-6 ft jump with no running start. Now fiesty one is more aggressive and the docile one is well docile. All health checks ok.