Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My caiman seems to be losing its color on its stomach area. The area is turninng white. The top layer of its skin (the brown part) is kinda peeling off. Any idea what it might be? it's eating fine.

Sorry to say but he looks very malnourished to me. You say he eats fine. How often do you feed him and what do you feed him??

crickets and gold fish a couple times a week. i just got him. i guess he does look a little skinny but thats the way he came. what else should i feed it? i have an alligator that ive had for a year and hes doing fine on the same diet.

While an occasional goldfish and some crickets while young may not be a bad thing every once ina while, I wouldnt make it a staple diet. You need to get some other meat in the diet as well. Whole animals, chicken, beef/chicken liver, fish (catfish, perch, trout, etc.), and beef slices typically make up a well balanced diet for crocodilians of any type. When you are not feeding meat with bone, you want to make sure that you use a good vitamin supplement as well. Calcium is a MUST.

Chris

>>crickets and gold fish a couple times a week. i just got him. i guess he does look a little skinny but thats the way he came. what else should i feed it? i have an alligator that ive had for a year and hes doing fine on the same diet.
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League
www.uappeal.org

yeah i tried tuna fish once but it didnt go for it. i suspected it was because it wasnt moving. what if it doesnt like it if its alive should i force it? give it no other choice?

This forum is good for information but its always smart to do some reading. For books THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CROCODILIANS IN CAPTIVITY,for care sheets off the internet CROCODILIAN CAPTIVE CARE F.A.Q. Reading these is a grate start to having healthy crocodilians.

All good advice; but also don't hesitate on the vet for this one. Any new pet this questionable needs a good, thorough examination. The wound/burn/infection, or whatever that white spot is, isn't good and will likely need treatment in addition to improved diet and husbandry. Croodilians have an immune system that actively hunts pathogens to kill; much better than anything a mammal can attempt. Thus, if an infection is taking a foothold, it's bad.

Ian

ps, not to sound sour or anything, but crocodilians are hardy. Just because you have an alligator live a year in any certain circumstances, doesn't mean they are even close to ideal.