How does this look?

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 02:27 PM

This is for my soon to be Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman. They're more aquatic than they are terristial at the hatchling stage, and my guy will be just a little fella, roughly 4 - 6" long with tail. I'd honestly expected him to be a smidge smaller, but, oh well. More space for him!

It's a 125g, 6' long and around 2' tall, maybe a smidge over. Nearly 2' across.

Jazzed it all up with a lot of natural looking aquatic hides, a shady 'tree' on the land to lay under, and a nice little cave to lurk in on the land side, as well.

Go my water heater going, my filter/flow generator running(procudes and current while filtering), got a night and day bulb, and a UVB bulb as well.

Here's the pics:

This is the water side. Takes up most of the tank, gives plenty of room to swim around and hunt feeder items. Has a swamp like tree stump with vines providing a little shaded hidey spot. A large aquatic branch/vine piece that arches up out of the water. Provides a lovely basking spot or just a piece of surface area to sit on out of the water. Another wood piece that allows hidey areas under the various 'levels' the wood walls stick out at. Little plant piece that adds some more natural look to it. There's a water heater back there to warm up the water. Also have a filtering system that produces a current. There's also a nice floating log to just chill in or hide around.

Here's the land side. Obviously nowhere near as much space as the water has. Still, for the size of this little guy, it's a nice hunk of land to just cruise around when he feels it's necessary. Has a little cave to hide in, if he wants, and a shady tree to lay under. Sorry about the dirtiness on the side that makes it a little difficult to see. The substrate was very messy to deal with, especially since I had some issues with the divider and some flooding, but I fixed it.

Opinions? Anywhere where there can be improvement?

Ms. Medusa · 02-21-13, 02:32 PM

I have no input other than to say--- WOW it looks amazing! That's from a totally uneducated standpoint in regards to Dwarf Caimans--other than to know I'd be afraid of them! lol

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms. Medusa

I have no input other than to say--- WOW it looks amazing! That's from a totally uneducated standpoint in regards to Dwarf Caimans--other than to know I'd be afraid of them! lol

Haha! They call me crazy 'cause I look forward to getting bitten by the little bugger. LOL I've just grown to expect blood and bites when it comes to owning reptiles, so might as well grow to love it, should it happen.

Anywho, thanks! I've spent over $500 on it, not including the price of the tank, but it was well worth it!

Edit: I'd estimate this thing easily weighs 500+ lbs. with everything in it... I swear the tank itself is at least 150 lbs., if not more. All I know is, it was HARD to get it up a flight of stairs. Near impossible to lift it off the ground with two people. Very thick glass, very very big and heavy.

Ms. Medusa · 02-21-13, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepers

Haha! They call me crazy 'cause I look forward to getting bitten by the little bugger. LOL I've just grown to expect blood and bites when it comes to owning reptiles, so might as well grow to love it, should it happen.

Anywho, thanks! I've spent over $500 on it, not including the price of the tank, but it was well worth it!

Edit: I'd estimate this thing easily weighs 500+ lbs. with everything in it... I swear the tank itself is at least 150 lbs., if not more. All I know is, it was HARD to get it up a flight of stairs. Near impossible to lift it off the ground with two people. Very thick glass, very very big and heavy.

lol, I don't mind snake bites at all---- I'm not keen on lizard bites cause they are like armored pitbulls-- I can ONLY imagine a caimen's bite is much worse than that.... Of course worst of all is a hamster/mouse/rat- lil buggers are horrible to get bitten by!

Falconeer999 · 02-21-13, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms. Medusa

I have no input other than to say--- WOW it looks amazing! That's from a totally uneducated standpoint in regards to Dwarf Caimans

Same response!

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms. Medusa

lol, I don't mind snake bites at all---- I'm not keen on lizard bites cause they are like armored pitbulls-- I can ONLY imagine a caimen's bite is much worse than that.... Of course worst of all is a hamster/mouse/rat- lil buggers are horrible to get bitten by!

Yeeeahhh... I used to work at a pet store. I despised the hamsters for biting me. I'm used to lizard bites. My tegu actually bit me this morning.

Gungirl · 02-21-13, 03:02 PM

How large will this guy get once full grown? Do you know how fast they reach adult size?

Set up looks good depending on the size of the new guy.

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

How large will this guy get once full grown? Do you know how fast they reach adult size?

Set up looks good depending on the size of the new guy.

I've seen some conflicting information. I know one source says they grow quick, but I've seen other people with them and they seem to take up to 3 or so years to grow to full size. One source states they grow up to 6 inches a year if fed well and the habitat they're kept in is suitable.

They get between 3.5' - 5' long, nose tip to tail tip.

Gungirl · 02-21-13, 03:09 PM

Thanks for the info..

So how long do you think it will be living in the set up? I would think it would need a room at full size

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Thanks for the info..

So how long do you think it will be living in the set up? I would think it would need a room at full size

Probably until it reaches 1'. Maybe 2' maximum, but any further would be pressing luck, in my opinion.

aaron_cg · 02-21-13, 06:30 PM

From what I have read online, a 5' long one would need one about 10'x5'. Not sure on height, I would say 6 feet or so, so you can create a decent sized pool for them.

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron_cg

From what I have read online, a 5' long one would need one about 10'x5'. Not sure on height, I would say 6 feet or so, so you can create a decent sized pool for them.

Yeah, they definitely need a lot of space full size. Probably gonna give mine a small room with a pond in it once it's full size. I've seen very similar set ups like that, and they work wonderfully.

medicinhed · 02-21-13, 10:47 PM

Amazing. My Rainbow Boa would love that place.

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicinhed

Amazing. My Rainbow Boa would love that place.

Brazilian Rainbow? Beautiful snakes <3

medicinhed · 02-22-13, 12:21 AM

Now that I've read up on your Cuvier's, I really want one.