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Caiman
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by Snake18 on March 1, 2006
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Hy everybody,
I need a piece of advice.
A friend of mine just told me about a person selling a 40cm(1.3ft.) spectecled caiman at a reasoneble price.
I was thinkink of buying it. I could keep it very well even now and, in time, as it grows, I will be able to set it up in a bigger enclosure to suit its size.
Any advice from any one would be very helpful in my decision.
Thanks,
Best regards, Alex S.
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RE: Caiman
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by emtnurse on March 1, 2006
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Hey Alex, I could be wrong, but I think those types of caimens get pretty darn big. I am thinking around 12- 14 feet maybe. I might be wrong so forgive me if I am. I have never had any experience with caimens, so this info is just heresay. Bryan
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RE: Caiman
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by snakebite22 on March 1, 2006
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Hey that is a great and very hardy species of caiman. Only downside to them really is they are extremely aggressive. They avarage about 5-6ft the last one I had got to 4.5 ft but with the temper of a Nile. Just make sure you are ready for something like this and have a good setup with good filtration these things are nasty (in temperment and waste).
Richard
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RE: Caiman
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by Rob_Carmichael on March 1, 2006
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I would rather handle a gator twice the size of a spec. caiman!! Personally, I think they make horrible pets; just too aggressive for the average person.
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RE: Caiman
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by captiveherps on March 1, 2006
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Spectacled Caimen generaly grow to around 6 feet in a typical home set up. They are rarly ever tame and as a result can be had cheep or free when they get to the 3 foot range.
The "dwarf" types are better suited for keeping at home. If space was not an issue I would go with a gator as they are more predictable. I talk most of the people who ask to buy caimen from me out of getting one.
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RE: Caiman
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by bush_viper17 on March 3, 2006
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http://crocodilian.com/crocfaq/faq-2.html
read this. I know that you have had alot of experience with different reptiles from around the world, and I personally think that you would be a good and responsible owner of a caiman. Go for it. Good luck.
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RE: Caiman
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by Snake18 on March 3, 2006
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Thanks for the advice guys...
I`m still considering it but I`m going to think it threw before I make a decision.
Take care ya`ll and thanks again for the help...
Best regards, Alex S.
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RE: Caiman
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by Cro on March 3, 2006
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Alex: Keeping a crocodilian, as others here have said, can be a bit of a challenge.
They do get rather large.
They are often ill tempered, although some individuals are mild mannered.
They eat quite a bit, mess up their cages quite a bit, and must be kept warm.
Still, they are one of my favorite animals.
They do present an excellent learning opportunity for a Herpetologist.
If you have the place large enough to keep the Caiman, and are willing to commit to the time and effort involved, and can obtain it at a reasonable price, I think you should keep it.
You will learn a great deal about behavior that applies to all crocodilians.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Caiman
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by Snake18 on March 4, 2006
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Thanks John...
On my 14th birthday I touched my first crocodilian. It was 5 ft. spec. caiman. I fell inlove with it. But that one was extremely placid. Either that or it was chilled down. Of course, this was at a circus. I handled another caiman once, a 3-4 ft. spec. caiman at a reptile expo but it was extremely agressive and very powerful. It took two people to hold it and that kind of set me off. That`s all the experience I have with crocodilians. Anyway, like I said, I`m still thinking about it...
The thing is that if I buy this caiman, I won`t be able to buy my long expected puff adder... This is my biggest concern.
Thanks again for the advice everyone.
Take care!
Best regards, Alex S.
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RE: Caiman
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by Cro on March 4, 2006
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Alex: You are right about different crocodillians having very different temperments.
I once had an American Alligator that was raised from birth and was so docile, it could be carried around to school groups and the kids were allowed to touch it, and it never attempted to bite. I attribute this to it being gently handled from a very early age. It learned that people were not a threat, so it acted calmly around them.
I had another Alligator of about 4 feet and it was very nasty tempered. It would jump up and try to bite, and would hiss, and snap it`s jaws. Eventually, it became such a pain to keep that it had to be released back into the wild.
At the Atlanta Zoo, we had a 5 foot Gharial in my section that I cared for every day. I had to get into the enclosure with it to clean out the cage. At first, he would hiss at me, and try to act aggressive.
I just talked to him, and over time he got used to me being the one that fed him, and he decided that I would not hurt him. Eventually, I was able to touch his back, and later able to scratch him behind the ears ( crocks like getting scratched behind the ears ). Over the course of a year he became very easy to work with, and could be touched and fed goldfish by hand. He got so used to me that I could pick him up if I wanted.
After I left the Zoo, I talked with the new keeper who was in charge of my section. He talked about what an evil animal the Gharial was. He hated workin with it. I think he was afraid of it, and afraid of all those sharp teeth. When he went into the cage, he carried a broom to push the Gharial away. Well, the poor old Gharial was ruined by him. It became aggressive and protective, as that keeper treated it badly. So, all the docile behavior that I had helped create was lost.
I guess what I am trying to say in this, is that Crocs are intellegent, and respond to how they are treated. This is no guarantee that one will calm down and be docile, but that it can happen.
Best Regards JohnZ
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