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The 5ft Spec Caiman was moved about 5 months ago to a new enclosure. After two weeks she settled in and started eating, but never as much as when she was in her old enclosure. The last 2 months she stopped eating all together. Her water temps were around 76-78 which was cool since her old enclosure was 82-84. Her new enclosure had heating and condensation issues. So a new and improved enclosure was built to solve these items and she was moved once again last month. Her new water temps are around 84-86 along with a large cover area so she should feel more protected. She still hasn't consumed anything going on 3 months now. She stays under her cover area and doesn’t leave. This past week I had her light off completely thinking she would relax in the dark and start being active. She’s in her own room with no noise or foot traffic.

I'm starting to think maybe the problem is the city water. Her first enclosure was well water, but now the last two are city water. If anyone here has any thoughts about city water or any other ideals it would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks
Rick

I have a male schneiders dwarf caiman that spent most of his life in a cattle trough. I put him in an enclosure that was 10X6X7 when I got him and he didn't eat a thing for 6 months, nor did he move from one hiding spot for at least a month. Maybe she's just freaked out by all of the moving around?

Matt

"The 5ft Spec Caiman was moved about 5 months ago to a new enclosure. After two weeks she settled in and started eating, but never as much as when she was in her old enclosure. This past week I had her light off completely thinking she would relax in the dark and start being active. She’s in her own room with no noise or foot traffic. I'm starting to think maybe the problem is the city water. If anyone here has any thoughts about city water or any other ideals it would be greatly appreciated? "

some years ago I owned a dwarf caiman (palp), he lived in a kids pool for 1 year, he ated from tongs, leave his hide at day and was almos social... then I built an outdoor enclosure, and when took him out he got so scared and freaked that he never went out of his hide at day, only at nigth... quit eating for me, I leave food on a rock infront his hide, not always eated... some times he just taked food to water and let it there... he never get better...
also once bougth from a friend a pair of cb specs, they where about 2 1/2 ft each, healty and fat... great eaters... (I saw them grow up) when they arrived, their house was my 7 x 2 x 3 aquarium with 1 1/2 ft water... with a hide and dry area... I think it was the shipping, because they never eat by them selves again.. a friend of mine keep them, but force feed them every week
in the other hand, I just got 3 baby palps and I have grab them a few times... 2 of them still eat from tongs, an the 3th one eats from a rock, but still is a great eater...

It could depend on a lot of things, but think it could also depend on each caiman personality,

in the pics, one with my old dwarf... an other with the 3 new ones

best wishes

Rick