Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,

Has anyone ever fed their Dwarf Caimans frogs? I saw a pic (I believe on the paleosuchus page on the crocodilian FAQ) with a dwarf eating a frog and I was wondering if anyone had ever experimented with it? Would you recommend farmed frogs or do frogs have the same thiaminese problem?

I would appreciate anyones thoughts.

I am just trying to find some "enrichment" ideas that might help bring out more natural behaviors and such in him.

Thanks,

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

Chris,

I have experimented with this just yesterday. I bought an african frog of some kind from Petco. The frog is tiny, probably only one inch in length. I also bought a tiny crab and I threw them both in with my 12 inch dwarf caiman. So far he didnt eat neither of them, but I believe its only because they are hiding behind small objects and he cannot get to them. He usually snaps at whatever floats or moves by his jaws. I will eventually grab some forceps and wiggle the frog and the crab infront of him so he grabs them. Anyhow, I think a variety of food will do him good. Afterall, they do feed on crustaceans in the wild at this age. I will keep you posted on this experiment. Hopefully he will catch them and let em know who the real king on his habitat is

PS: So far he is mostly feeding on goldfish and crickets ( i dont like this combination bc he needs bone and calcium in his diet to grow) he did eat a live pinky rat. However, he won't eat dead Live pinkies are hard to get around here. I bought a bunch of frozen pinky mice. I hate to see them go to waste. Any suggestions on how to get him started on dead prey? I know he acts on movement only. Maybe i should try and wiggle them infront of him. But i would prefer to leave them on a tray for the night. Any tricks to this?

Hi,

I think Rick (BIGTANK) says his are quite shy, and he leaves dead rodents in front of their hiding spot over night.

Maybe that would help?

Rob

hi...

when I bougth this guy he just eat fishes that he hunted... then begin to wiggle pinkies with forceps near his mouth... at the begining he just bite and realese the pinkie as a defense... after several days doing this he begin eating the pinkies... and afters some months he eats every thing from my tongs... meatballs, pinkies, crikets, etc...

BUT....

the first time I handle him, he got so scared that he has never eat again from tongs... since then I just leave food in the dry area... and he will go out of water or his cave to get the food... I use to feed him with 2 or 3 meatballs or pinkies every time, and every time he coms for a meal he get in water again... he looks like "get the food and run away"....

I´ve been trying to get him into tongs feeding again, but I think its going to take a long time...

about frogs... I wouldn´t feed him with any frog that isn´t from his abitat... I preffer dusted crikets, pinkies and I use "koi" fishes for hunting, fun and exercise...

hope this can help

best wishes

Rick

Rick,

Would it be ok if I try feeding him raw chicken or raw beef? I left him two goldfish on the land area at night and he ate them. He also mutilated the crab, he bit 3 of his legs off i dont think he can catch that damn frog, it hides behind the filter all the time. I will tie it down at one point. LOL, jk. No but seriously, do you believe that maybe feeding calcium dusted raw meat in small chunks is a good idea? i really want to offer my dwarf some variety so he grows big and strong. What kind of variety do you use? and are there any good calcium powder brands out there?

Thanks,
Ron

I thik yes... I feed mine with pinkies and a mix of 1.1 ratio of raw chiken and raw beef, split it in 2 parts, one is powdered with calcium (Reptical)and the other wit vitamins (Reptivit), you can find it a Petsmart or Petco... it works great with my dwarf... you can see my pics, he grow 200% or 300% in 1 year...

they love fishes, but are not enough nutritive...I use fish just for fun and exercise (maybe can help with stress)... Its good he´s hunting the crab =)

if I can help with something else just ask or mail me...

good look

rick

Your dwarf should get used to eatting dead pretty quickly. Mine got used to fuzzys then mice off tweezers in an afternoon...

As I stated before, i threw in a crab and a frog to my dwarf caiman. Both were about and inch long. I am happy to report that within 3 days, my foot long baby caiman has caught up with the action. First day he mutilated the crab, the second night he made a meal out of the arthropod. On the third night my dwarf and the frog both layed out their cards on the table

Today I made him that mixture that Bigtank recommended, consisting of raw beef and chicken mixed with reptocal. I also buried two pinky mice in there. I will see if its gone by tomorrow. hopefully it will be, at least some of it.