Croc handling

[crocHerper]

Hi, i own snakes many years and i want to get into crocs as well, because i like them and i have the space that needed to proper care of crocodilians. I want to buy a pair of speckled caimans. My question is how i can handle my crocs. I think is not like a snake, pick it up from it's cage. Any suggestions?
Mike

[BAZ]

www.crocodilian.com is a really good website to get info on crocs including captive care and handling. Spec can be crazy wankers so be careful.

I'm curious where u plan to keep 2 fully grown specticled caimans. At 8ft they would have to be kept ouside by most people. Do you plan on doing that or keep em indoors? If indoors then you gotta share your enclosure plans man.. I want to get a cuviers and I am looking for enclosure ideas.

[reptilesalonica]

cuviers?

[BAZ]

Cuviers Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)

[crocHerper]

No, outdoors. I have already made the scheduals for the huge cage. Cuviers are great! If i put thick glass on the front panel will it be safe for adult specktackled? Can he smash it?
Mike

[BAZ]

U will need tempered glass for a big caiman. I believe it should be at least 1/4 inch thick to be on the safe side.. better safe than sorry innit mate ;)

[crocHerper]

Of course! :). I've read the handling section on crocodilian.com. It's a very informative site. I liked it!

[marylyn101]

how do you plan to heat them in the winter?

[Dom]

Id say as a suggestion .. got get some pratice handling and a real idea of what u are getting into ..

and if u are trully serious about getting into them .. don't go with the spectacles.. go with the Trigonotrus or the palpebrosus.. there more expensive but realisticly .. the chances of you keeping them to adult size are much greater..

Best of luck

Dom

[sparkon16]

Oddly enough I totally agree with Dom about getting a dwarf species of caiman.
On the handling part there is truely nothing better than hands on experience with a professional.
They can teach you the tricks and anything to look for better than any site.

Deuce Good luck with the caimans.

[ReptiZone]

I would add that if you want a crocodilian first of you are planing on geting some spectacleds DON'T if you want a large crocodilian get a alligator caus they are a bit more forgiving then the rest but I would get a small crocodilian If i were you just cause you never worked wiyh any B4 and you need to learn to crawl B4 you run. just a pice of advice