Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I pick up a dwarf caimen last weekend at the North western berks expo. He is about 14 inches and seems healthy but has not eaten from what I have seen. I put 100 feeder guppies in the tank, but due to I have the tank well planted I cannot tell if he has eaten any. Last night I left a live hopper on the land area but to find in dead in the water this morning. I put a night crawler in there tonight, but he dosent seem intrested. I tried mazuri I bought from the vendor the caimen was purchased from the first day but all it did was get soggy and break up. From what i have read they are supposed to be fed 2-3 times per weeks and feeder fish at all times. How long should I wait before it should be something to be conserned with? Also what can I do to stimulate his appitite.

Ps. his water is at 82 degrees f. and I have a 125 watt mercury vapor bulb about 12 inches from the basking area. The tank is a 55 gal. and I have 1/3 the area land. And I have read some threads on hear and yes I know he will get up to 6ft. I just lost my 15 yr aprx. water monitor and have a custom enclosure that takes up a quarter of my basement.

You need to give him time to adjust. Don't handle home or bother him just let him be. He should start eating once he destress and gets comfortable.
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Tom
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.2.1 Sulcata Tortoise (tank, sahara and skittles)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.4 Red Ear Sliders (moe, uncle sam, bernie and ernie)
0.0.1 Western Soft shell (Squirt)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow and Sparkles )
0.0.1 Sumatran Water Monitor (Tiny)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Love Bird ( KIKI )
1.2.0 Dog (layla, Roxy and Rosco)
2.2.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell and sadie)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.1 Aligator Snapping turtle
0.0.1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon
0.0.1 Argentina Black and White Tegu
2.1.0 Columbian Red Tail Boas
1.2.0 Kenya Sand Boas
0.1.0 Green Iguana
1.0.0 Ball Python
1.0.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0.0 Chocolate Skunk

I picked one up at the same show, also. I put crickets and feeder minnows in the tank. He didn't eat the crickets and it was hard to tell, if he ate any minnows. I got a weight on him today and decided to jiggle a 2" minnow in front of him. He took it and gobbled it up. He probably was just pissed and bit it. The wiggling triggered the feeding response. Either way, it's in his gut. I'll monitor his weight weekly. You could do the same. Good Luck.

It could be the season. Mine hasn't picked up its warm wather feeding yet. She doesn't eat near as much in the cool months even though her habitat stays constant year round

In nature Paleosuchus eat snails along with a plethora of other things. Put some live snails in but more importantly LEAVE IT ALONE.....Let it settle in....thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
239-645-9661
tomcrutchfield1@aol.com
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Thank you all for your advice. Yea I left him alone and I kept some mollies and he ate all but one and the earthworms I leave over night also are gone the next morning. My next trip to the pet store I'm going to buy a few snails and a pink mouse and see if he will eat them.