thinking about a cuviers

[RachelS.]

Hey! I've been reading and researching on dwarf caimens for a while, and finally thought I was ready to keep one. I want to get a hatchling at about 11'' long and keep it in a 60 gallon aquarium for a while with a heat lamp, bricks for the surface, and maybe a water heater if needed. When it hits about 1 - 2 feet long, of course it's going to have already outgrown the cage, I will keep it in a 300 - 400 gallon horse trough with a pexi-glass and wire mesh top with hinges for easy opening. I already looked for these at a local feed store, and they run about $200. I have everything worked out with food, too. I buy pinkies and hoppers for my hognose snake and savannah monitor, so that isn't a problem. I buy small rats for my ball python. And crickets, mealworms, silkworms, waxworms, and roaches for my geckos, frogs, and savannah monitor. All I have to do is like double the quantity on these items, and that is no problem. If there is anything I'm missing, let me know =P. Thanks

-Rachel

[jason h]

hey rachel you may want to look into a filtering system especially when you do the horse trough as the water in it will not be as easily changed,other than that i think you got the basics i would also look in your area for a good herp vet that will work with crocodilians as they are prolly your hardest thing to find.

[Matt]

ya, i agree with jason, look into a good vet before you get the caimen, other than that seems like you got a good handle on things

[RachelS.]

Oh yeah and the filtering system... knew I forgot something ;). I have 2 reptile vets in my area, and one looks at crocodilians. So, I'm pretty sure I have everything all worked out :-D. Thanks so much!

-Rachel

[jason h]

excellent,good luck on your new life partner;)

[Dom]

Good luck Rachel .. Have u ever worked with crocodilians? They are amazing animals but also a huge commitment..

[RachelS.]

Well, no actually I've never "worked" with them, but I have handled a few before and been bitten. I have kept herps for about 9 years...does that count in experience? :D Give me any advice you think I should have. Thanks a bunch...

-Rach

[Dom]

Best suggestion I can give u is work with them for several years b4 owning some b/c they trully are a huge commitment .. and they will get fairly large ...

Have u ever picked up a 3 foot caimen .. wether a cuviers a sneiders, spec or even ucares??

I can tell u .. Ive pick up a 3 foot spec no problem .. a 3 foot schneider and that was one of the CRAZIEST thing I have ever done .. and a 2 foot and a half nasty cuviers and I still can't beleive their speed compard ot a spectacle.. Working with the babies is no problem but what happens when he will be 3 feet or even 4 cause if properly cared for he will reach that size and maybe more..

-->9 years thats great! Although are u not around 14??? Is that not what ure profile says..

Don't get me wrong I think there amazing but I also think that in order to be able to say " I will take care of this animal all my life" , a young adult such as yourself can not make this commitment ..


Also getting bitten is not excacly a good thing lol Often getting bitten once by a croc means this is the last time u work with them..

I think u are on the right track choosing a cuviers though .. I truly think that you will be a great candidate for a caimen .. maybe just not now .. Just my thoughts though .. Please don't take it the wrong way .. I simply work in a reptile zoo and have seen the worst of things get done to animals because ppl rush into them when not ready .. its always the animals that pay for it in the end..

[RachelS.]

Dom:
I picked up a 2 1/2 foot spectacled caimen at an adoption agency around my area. The lady said she thought I was so good with herps (crocodilians too btw) that she'd have no problem giving the caimen to me! I told her it would be better for me to wait another 6 months to a year before actually keeping one of my own. I know about the commitment, I chatting over it with the people on ks. 40 years is a long time, but I will still be in the reptile business then too ;). I know about college, I already talked that over with my parents... it's quite simple, really. I also understand that this animal is more of a display type and not one to mess with or have to show your friends because they think it's cool. I will only handle it for yearly vet appointments, cleaning out the enclosure, and all other reasons such as those.

And yes, I am 14... pretty embarrassed to admit that now. I feel like everyone is going to bash me about my age :(. O well...

Thanks a bunch,
-Rachel

[jason h]

hi rachel
i dont really think dom was trying to rub you the wrong way he is just making sure you know what your up against,I know you have been asking questions on ks for well over a year now and i know you have an excellent grasp on crocodilians,unfortunatly many ppl your age would get one without knowing such things(it happens alot) so some one who doesnt know how much research youve done and someone like dom who sees the downside on a regular basis can get a little sceptical,and for good reason he is just trying to make sure that someone else wont betrying to dump there croc in 4-5 years because it was just to hard to look after.
p.s.i am glad to see that your mature enough to know that your not ready for one quite yet most ppl wouldbuy one then realize it.;)

[Dom]

Rachel .. U seemedd to understand and want to commit .. In time i am sure u'll have a nice caimen to call ure own!

Jason - U can read me like a book lol!

[Scotty Allen]

Rachel, nobody here is going to "bash you about your age". I've been in this hobby a long time and met plenty of folks 3 times your age that don't have the maturity you show in your thinking.

Good for you on your well thought out plan and research, I'm sure your caiman will have a good home. You might also want to consider one of the large roach species as a food source. Insects are a large part of most hatchling crocodilians diet.

[RachelS.]

Thanks Jason and Dom,

I appreciate your help, and I'm actually glad you recognize how young I am so you can ask me all these questions. I just want the best for my reptiles, and that means dedication and that I have to spend a long time getting experience to keep large, dangerous herps. Thank you for your time.

-Rachel

[RachelS.]

Faltwoundscotty, I breed and raise madagascar hissing roaches and noticed they make an excellent food source for my sav and bearded dragon. I know baby crocs love them, so I'll give it a shot :p. Thanks

-Rachel

[jason h]

hi rachel
no problem, i hope you continue to pic our brains in your quest for knowledge,because ive seen some of the negative reaction youve edured of the year on ks because of your age,that wont be an issue here as we are here to help you not put you down
(the only stupid question is the one thats not asked):D ;)

[tightsqueeze]

don't worrie about what people say about your age rachel "AGE IS NOTHING BUT A NUMBER"


jay

[paul_le_snake]

just want to say good on ya to jason, dom and rachel. it's easy to judge someone by their age, but like dom i have seen the bad cases of reptile neglect by supposedly mature adults. we have a burm at work that had its stomach cut open coz the owners mates wanted to know what the inside of his snake looked like. makes me sick what some ppl can do to all animals
cheers
paul

[RachelS.]

Paul,

It's terrible how some people treat their animals. They just don't care! They don't even think about how that animal has a life! Wish there weren't people like that and I wish I could do something about it, but I can't. Anyway, thanks for your help. I'm glad most people on this site don't care about age and look more closely at experience and maturity.

-Rachel

[paul_le_snake]

no probs, we were all 14 once (in a good way!)