Questions for the croc keepers

[boosh96]

I'm definitely not planning on getting a crocodilian anytime in the remotely near future, but I'm just curious-what's it like keeping a crocodilian? What's your favorite and least favorite part of keeping them? What does the schedule of a croc owner look like? Can crocodilians become tractable? I'm just really curious about what it's like to keep these amazing reptiles, although chances are I won't ever have one of my own!

[smy_749]

I think it depends on the type of croc your talking about. If your interested in getting something like that, get a caiman lizard, or a dwarf caiman. There was a guy on here recently who adopted a large american alligator.

[Pirarucu]

If your interested in getting something like that, get a caiman lizard, or a dwarf caiman.LOL, those are polar opposites. One is generally placid and eats snails. The other is somewhat shy yet bloodthirsty and prefers to eat fingers..

[smy_749]

LOL, those are polar opposites. One is generally placid and eats snails. The other is somewhat shy yet bloodthirsty and prefers to eat fingers..

I didn't mean that they were similar animals, I just assumed that he wanted something that looked like a croc lol Dwarf caiman is still probably not a good idea, so I figured I'd recommend caiman lizards too (or a shinisaurus). I was going to type crocodile skink but I didn't want to take it too far hahahaha

When someone says they want a dinosaur you tell him to get a rudicollis, you know what I meant :P

[smy_749]

Speaking of caiman lizards and going completely off topic, does anyone remember an episode of jeff corwins show where he caught a wild caiman lizard and it ripped his wrists to pieces? It was probably like 13 years ago......lool I've tried to find it on youtube and never had any success

[Pirarucu]

Speaking of caiman lizards and going completely off topic, does anyone remember an episode of jeff corwins show where he caught a wild caiman lizard and it ripped his wrists to pieces? It was probably like 13 years ago......lool I've tried to find it on youtube and never had any successDon't think I saw that one, but I definitely believe you.. Those claws are some of the sharpest out there.

[Danimal]

I kept a dwarf caiman for several years. Imo it's no harder to keep than a large monitor. They can be messy and very aggressive. Deceptively fast and limber. I would have one again but only if I could build a large permanent enclosure. I was young and didn't know what I was doing. Also like other large exotics this is one of those cool in theory pets, that as a juvenile or adult can quickly become a nightmare. I only say that because it's easy to form an idea of what you think it will be like that is nothing close to the reality. If you don't live alone or entertain a lot you have to be super careful.

A friend of one of my daughters went to spring break last year with a group of fraternity brothers and came back with an alligator. I know exactly why the idiots bought it and I warned them that if it manages to survive it will hurt some one, simply because of the nature of a frat house.

[boosh96]

I kept a dwarf caiman for several years. Imo it's no harder to keep than a large monitor. They can be messy and very aggressive. Deceptively fast and limber. I would have one again but only if I could build a large permanent enclosure. I was young and didn't know what I was doing. Also like other large exotics this is one of those cool in theory pets, that as a juvenile or adult can quickly become a nightmare. I only say that because it's easy to form an idea of what you think it will be like that is nothing close to the reality. If you don't live alone or entertain a lot you have to be super careful.

A friend of one of my daughters went to spring break last year with a group of fraternity brothers and came back with an alligator. I know exactly why the idiots bought it and I warned them that if it manages to survive it will hurt some one, simply because of the nature of a frat house.

Would you say the overall experience of keeping a caiman was worth it though? What did the menu/feeding schedule and food budget look like for it? Again, I'm not asking because I plan on getting one-I'm just curious. :P

[Danimal]

Would you say the overall experience of keeping a caiman was worth it though? What did the menu/feeding schedule and food budget look like for it? Again, I'm not asking because I plan on getting one-I'm just curious. :P

It was a long time ago, I was a 22 year old kid and no innerwebs so I winged it. Live mice, then rats as a staple but he would eat just about anything. Every other day. This is my recollection and is in no way an endorsement as the proper husbandry of a caiman. I've never looked into what is now the acceptable husbandry of the species.

I got attached to the caiman, I cannot tell you why. I don't form emotional attachments to reptiles, I think that is ridiculous. I don't know what it was but I think it's just a total fascination with the species. I feel the same way about several species of monitor.

[smy_749]

It was a long time ago, I was a 22 year old kid and no innerwebs so I winged it. Live mice, then rats as a staple but he would eat just about anything. Every other day. This is my recollection and is in no way an endorsement as the proper husbandry of a caiman. I've never looked into what is now the acceptable husbandry of the species.

I got attached to the caiman, I cannot tell you why. I don't form emotional attachments to reptiles, I think that is ridiculous. I don't know what it was but I think it's just a total fascination with the species. I feel the same way about several species of monitor.

I've been wanting to say that I think that is ridiculous for quite sometime, but figured I'd keep it to myself so there was no uprising against me. But now that you've gone and said it, I will say me too. Also what do you mean by if you don't live alone or entertain alot ? I get the live alone part, but not the entertain one..

[Danimal]

I've been wanting to say that I think that is ridiculous for quite sometime, but figured I'd keep it to myself so there was no uprising against me. But now that you've gone and said it, I will say me too. Also what do you mean by if you don't live alone or entertain alot ? I get the live alone part, but not the entertain one..


Just something to consider that I think gets over looked. When you have a hobby of any kind that can be dangerous, it's all about risk management. I have never been huge into snakes but when my first daughter was born I had 2 larger snakes, a bcc and a burm, neither full grown but large enough to be dangerous to an infant. I got rid of them, not because I didn't think it was possible to keep them locked up but because I knew it was impossible to know 100% for sure that they wouldn't get out. If I had a separate building to keep them in I would have probably made a different decision.

When you are keeping animals in your house and you entertain a lot, its only a matter of time before some one gets stupid and causes a problem. That happens when you entertain a lot with nothing else involved, so double or triple it up when a potentially dangerous animal is thrown in.
Probably the younger the crowd the higher the probability. Once you get up around my age the fascination is usually limited to being politely interested and knowledge of where they are located so they can be avoided. They typically don't want to see them or touch them.

[smy_749]

Ah ok I get it now. Even if your friends don't open the cage, one of them is going to say so and so has a dwarf caiman. Then his friend is going to call it an alligator. A few days later the animal control is going to be knocking on your door about report of a saltwater croc in the basement.

[StudentoReptile]

For these reasons addressed, its why I do believe crocodilians warrant more licensing nationwide. Its too easier for a lot of folks to acquire an alligator, that quite simply, should not be owning an alligator. Even a dwarf caiman can inflict some serious damage.

[boosh96]

So, I'm just curious-what are the minimum recommended enclosure dimensions for a single adult Paleosuchus palebrosus? I've heard crocodilians need a ton of space, like a lot more than a similarly sized lizard.

[smy_749]

So, I'm just curious-what are the minimum recommended enclosure dimensions for a single adult Paleosuchus palebrosus? I've heard crocodilians need a ton of space, like a lot more than a similarly sized lizard.

I hope your not considering getting a dwarf caiman now...you really should just decide on a species already, you've got about 20 threads about species....If you have to ask about cage dimensions and minimums then you aren't ready for a caiman.

[boosh96]

Nope, I'm not considering a dwarf caiman. I'm just curious about how much space a crocodilian requires as opposed to, say, a lizard of similar size. There's no need to get your panties in a wad.

[Zoo Nanny]

I think more states are contemplating the banning of all crocodilians. Rhode Island right now is attempting to pass a law banning the sale. I have to say that after working with both alligators and dwarf crocs I don't think that 90% of the general public is equipped to own one. I was in a town on the RI/MA border going into a Petco when an idiot came walking through the parking lot with his american alligator baby on a leash. I told him that he had better make tracks back to RI before a cop saw him as they would confiscate the animal. He thought that because he bought it legally in RI that he could own it in MA. The MA border towns police depts love to confiscate everything they see. One poor woman found out the hard way when she drove into N.Attleboro with her Serval and lost it when a police officer stopped her. She never did get it back. That one I felt really bad for the animal was 6 or 7 and she had owned it since it was a kitten.