Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't think he was having as much fun as me.

Bill,

I am intensely jealous of the photos you take. That is gorgeous. Of course, if you dont mind, I would like to use it as my desktop background?

Beatiful photo!

Chris
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

You wasn't actually taking that outside was you? If so, what are your temperatures outside right now? Being in Minnesota, I am sure the temps aren't the warmest at the moment. How does he handle the coolness?

Just curious,

Chris
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

I find him much easier to handle this way...

No, he's indoors from October through May.

Oh, and as for using the picture for wallpaper - I'm flattered.

Bill

This is a great opportunity to introduce my new product! Why should those of us that live in cooler climates, suffer the separation of not playing with our ectotherms outside during the colder months !? After all who doesn't want to make snow angles with their crocodilian? Well, now you can! Introducing the new Crocowave oven. Before taking your gator outside in subfreezing temps, give it a little 10-15 second zap of "Crocowave energy" to keep it warm and toasty. When returning from a cold winter's walk give the little fellow another 10-15 seconds of Crocowave energy and watch him "snap" back to his ole' frisky self.

Believe it or not there are still a few openings for investors, so act now! And remember you read it on the Internet therefore it MUST BE TRUE.

Crap! I thought you said 15 minutes

Gross! Now, that's just wrong! - lol!

>>This is a great opportunity to introduce my new product! Why should those of us that live in cooler climates, suffer the separation of not playing with our ectotherms outside during the colder months !? After all who doesn't want to make snow angles with their crocodilian? Well, now you can! Introducing the new Crocowave oven. Before taking your gator outside in subfreezing temps, give it a little 10-15 second zap of "Crocowave energy" to keep it warm and toasty. When returning from a cold winter's walk give the little fellow another 10-15 seconds of Crocowave energy and watch him "snap" back to his ole' frisky self.
>>
>>Believe it or not there are still a few openings for investors, so act now! And remember you read it on the Internet therefore it MUST BE TRUE.
>>
>>
>>
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

(Sorry, couldn't resists.)

Excellent photo, Bill.

Thanks John.

Ya know...I dont think we have heard much about your palp. I see lots of your gator, but you rarely ever mention anything about your palpebrosus. How big is he and how hold? What kind of enclosure do you typically keep him in. He is beautiful animal.

Chris
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

The only crocodilian I've ever actually paid for. Got him as a hatchling in 1999. Now he's about 32-43 inches in length. He is prominantly featured in Adam's Croc FAQ in the sexing section.
sexing
One thing to notice is how black he is and how that contrasts with the usual palp coloration. He has retained that black color.

Here is an old photo of him that I like.

doh!

He's definitely gorgeous. A palpebrosus is technically what I would have preferred, but I ended up getting a trigonatus instead because I got a good deal. Did yours ever show any interest in fish as a hatchling? Chris Dieter recommended getting some fish in him as a hatchling and I have tried. I have placed some rosie red feeders in his enclosure (a 90 gallon stock tank) and he pays them no interest. He LOVES chicken however. I only wish dwarf caiman grew a little faster. Awesome animals.

Chris
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

He ate minnows, crickets and pinkies as a hatchling. He has always been an aggressive feeder, and will jump out of the water for food (and fingers if I am not careful).
As for growth rate?, I'm not sorry about the slower growth rate at all.
He's kind of interesting to observe when in a group of other crocodilians like gators and spec caimans. The gators and specs are known to be social animals where the Paleosuchus are not. That plays out perfectly when they are all together. The gators and caimans will all bask together while the palp is off on the other side by himself. Of course they are not considered basking animals either so the whole situation is contrary to thier natural history and preferences.

Yes, I have noticed that with my trig. He doesn't bask a whole lot. Every once in a blue moon he might decide to get on the basking log and sit there for a maximum of about 10 minutes. Then he is back in the water. My caiman isn't a very aggressive feeder. Then again, he is also very young and quite shy right now. My alligator however, behaves in much the same manner than you described your caiman. He is a very aggressive feeder and practically jumps out of the enclosure when it is time to eat...especially if mice are on the menu that evening. I can't wait until he is big enough to ......well actually that will never happen. By the time he is Tysons size...Tyson will be 7 feet long..lol. So therefore, I am not sure if I will get an opportunity to see how they act around each other. I will probably have to put them in the outdoor pen at different times, or simply build another pen for the Trig when he is ready for it. It should be interesting.

Chris

>>He ate minnows, crickets and pinkies as a hatchling. He has always been an aggressive feeder, and will jump out of the water for food (and fingers if I am not careful).
>>As for growth rate?, I'm not sorry about the slower growth rate at all.
>>He's kind of interesting to observe when in a group of other crocodilians like gators and spec caimans. The gators and specs are known to be social animals where the Paleosuchus are not. That plays out perfectly when they are all together. The gators and caimans will all bask together while the palp is off on the other side by himself. Of course they are not considered basking animals either so the whole situation is contrary to thier natural history and preferences.
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League