smooth front dwarf caiman

[lakeridgekennel]

I have a question? Are smooth front dwarf caimans tame and handable or are they agressive like other dwarf crocs.

How big do they get?
What do they eat?
Do any of you have a pic of an smooth front dwarf caimans adults or babies

Thanks for all your help

Sean

[LadyHawke]

very beautiful animal, and very testy, doesnt like to be handled very much at all, eats anything, i feed mine rats mice ....any rodent for that matter that will fit in her mouth, and bits of fish, chicken and beef, i keep her on a variety of things
i am pretty sure they can grow 6 or 7 feet as well
here's a pic of my Ozzy on display at one of my shows, not a very good pic tho, right now she is about 2 1/2 ft long

[lakeridgekennel]

How long does it take for them to reach full size.

What can i keep a hatchling in?

what about hatchlings what do they eat?

How old is ozzy?

thanks for all the help!!
>(

[Turtle Matt]

lakeridge kennel, do you already have these animals or what??
Matt

[lakeridgekennel]

ya I have all these. I want to make them my job!

[LadyHawke]

these animals are opportunistic feeders, thats why i give a variety in diet....with smaller ones give smaller food items, like pinkies and small feeder fish, i've heard that too much goldfish is not good for them, so dont overload on them, i am still looking into it, but there is many other types of feeder fish. i feed Ozzy from tongs, all her food is prekilled....she is lightening fast!!!
i found this growth chart for a Spectacled Caiman, it must be somewhat similar to the smooth front, at least its something to go by
Age Total and Total length (inches) (approx.)
Hatchling 7 - 8
1 year 16 - 18
2 years 26 - 30
3 years 35 - 41
4 years 43 - 49
5 years 53 - 59
6 years 61 - 67
10 years 69 - 77

I figure Ozzy is almost 3 yrs old, going somewhat by this chart

[lakeridgekennel]

thanks for all the help LadyHawke.
You helped me out alot THANKS!!

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Are smooth front dwarf caimans tame and handable or are they agressive like other dwarf crocs.

How big do they get?
What do they eat?
Do any of you have a pic of an smooth front dwarf caimans adults or babies

Personally, from personal experience, both species of Paleosuchus attitudes are worse than Niles and/or salties. Nice and fiesty critters they are. Expect a handful. Naturally, Neos and juveniles eat insects and other small animals they can over power, adults have a more aquatic eating behavior eating large portions of fish and crustaceans. The prey habits are very similar in captivity, though it really doesn't matter what you feed when you feed as long as their is a varity of diets and not a prolong feeding of the same animal, ie. strict diet of rodent or fish.
Most fish, asides mullets and ocean perch, contain a fairly high amount of thiaminase which destroys the vit. B1. Also most fish attains very oily substances which causes steatitis, Vit E deficiency. I'd stay away from any fish that is in the carp family. (Goldfish, ect).
Smooth fronts have the capability of reaching sizes of around 6' Sometimes bigger more often times smaller. In fact Ive never seen a smooth bigger than 4' though I hear some rumors of people having them that are. No valid pictures though.

How long does it take for them to reach full size.

What can i keep a hatchling in?

what about hatchlings what do they eat?

How old is ozzy?

Full size depends on the animal's genes, health, care, ect. To determine this is fairly impossible. Also, I doubt it will reach larger than 3'.. 4' maybe. You can keep hatchlings in anything that holds water and land, high enough to prevent escape and has enough space for plenty of hiding areas as well as not being over crowded. Remember, This Genus is a more terrestrial lifestyle.
Also, spectacle caimans growth is much faster than Smooth fronts. Why? Not to sure, but Id personally think it would have to do with the high acts of terrestrial living and burrow digging activities. I dont think anyone is studing this, but it'd be my guess. Here's a pic of my 3' male. I normally wear gloves when handling them because the osteoderms at the base of the tail can put some pain with a flailing smoothy..
Xain