Building my Schneider's Dwarf Caiman's new pond.mp4

[patio87]

That is so cool, I want to hang out in that little habitat.

[lauraccoxable]

This may be a silly question, but I just rescued a caiman from a man who had him (or her...she's only 13" so who knows right now!) in terrible conditions. She's hanging out in a 125 gallon tank I had until I can build her a new enclosure. I live in North Carolina where it can freeze over in the winter so my initial plan was to build a 12' by 12' enclosure in my basement or garage but you have inspired me to want to build something larger. Given my weather conditions is it possible? Thanks!

[RussellAllen55]

@lauraccoxable First, let me say Thank You for rescuing the caiman! Do you know what kind it is?  The common ones sold for pets are Spectacled Caiman which gets pretty big, (8-10ft. or more), and the two Dwarf Caimans, (Paleosuchus palpebrosis the Cuvier's[4-5ft.] and P. trigonatus the Schneider's[4-6 1/2ft.]). You can go on line and find some good info on these and other species. I would say a 125 gal will work for a 13"er for a year or so. 12'x12' is a good size for later on.

[lauraccoxable]

@RussellAllen55 The guy said she is a Culvier's but I cant be positive since he also had the poor little girl in a 29 gallon tank and was feeding crickets. She is mean as can be though, which, from what I read is actually a good sign. I will plan on a 12' by 12' and probably inside since the weather is my main concern. She had her first meal of mouse tonight and gobbled it down like it was the best thing in the world!

[RussellAllen55]

@lauraccoxable I'm really glad she is eating so well. If it is indeed a Cuviers, a 12'x12' will be good for a most/all of her life unless you plan to breed her. Then a larger enclosure would be better. Remember the Dwarfs like a lot more "dry land" than other Crocs. i would recommend a 50-50 split. Even a 40% water and 60% land would be good.

I'm in the process of building the final, (I hope), habitat for my boy. It will have a nice 12 ft. x 10 ft. pond and about twice as much "land".

[landofthefreemyass]

Well done. Thats how you take care of a caiman.

[RussellAllen55]

To everyone that has replied to this video I want to say thank you.

Several of you have asked if I am building a new and larger enclosure because it has been over a year since this video was shot. The answer is yes.

I am going to enclose and re-purpous a backyard pond and waterfall I built in the early '90's. I plan on using the natual gas heater and pump from our old hot tub to heat the pond in the winter, (if I can set the thermostat low enough). The pond is approx. 12 ft. by 10 ft.

[bigboismalls]

is he full grown at that size?

[BoolaBlue]

As a fellow Croc-O-Phile, I just wanted to stop by and say what a pleasure it is to watch your vids and see how well Jackson is cared for. You are an example to the community, sir, and I salute you. I dont currently own any crocodilians, but I have worked with them for years and cant say how many I have seen in poor enclosures with sub-par husbandry. Kudos!

[tigerelsker]

i have to say thats really good made ^_^ better then must of the caiman cage you see out here ^_^ want to see a good made cage the petting zoo i work i have then chek out my videos

[brandonashplant]

hey dude I am not sure you remember me but I am on the second page on your comments page for this video I said ''AWESOME!!! how big does he get though?''

and I was just typing in on you tube pet alligator and caiman's and also pet crocodiles! and I came by this old video and thought I would comment for a second time saying it is still AWESOME!!!! and have you made a new enclosure by now because it must have out grown this one by now! anyway nice vid Dude and bye! and I have liked and faved it!

[1BenFoster]

where are you located to be aloud to have jackson and how could i get one?

[cmelone4]

very nice..makes me want to build something new for my baby american alligator..love the pond

[RussellAllen55]

@cmelone4 Thanks. Alligators get much bigger than my caiman(duh) so plan on building a succession of larger and larger enclosures until you get to the point of building a very large permanent enclosure. I'm doing that now and it wont be cheap! I hope you have the money! :)

[bubbagumpshrimp14]

@RussellAllen55 where can i buy a caiman??? i dont want a gator they get to big

[sandmaster7]

i love your setup! I admire your work for ur caiman

[RussellAllen55]

@sandmaster7 Thank you. But it's been about a year since I built this and he's almost outgronw it, too. I'm working on an even larger, and hopefully permanent encloser this summer.

[jalbm222]

Does he only feed on fish? and what kind? I'm thinking of getting one, but I'm kinda leaning towards a water monitor.

[RussellAllen55]

@jalbm222 No, he eats crayfish, shrimp, mice, small rats, and raw chicken and sometimes pork. I suppliment the raw meat with vitamine/calcium powder .

If I were you, I would go with the Water Monitor. A very cool lizard, potentially less aggressive/easier to handle, and not subject to the problems often encountered with animal regulatory restrictions.

[jalbm222]

@RussellAllen55 Thanks for the advice. Coming from someone who has experience with a dwarf caiman totally convinced me that a water monitor would be better, 100% right on the aggressive and easier to handle part. Thanks again.

[z28suka]

How long was he in this video? Will that enclosure be large enough when he is an adult?

[RussellAllen55]

@z28suka He was about three feet in this one he's about 40",(1 meter), now. And no, this enclosure will be too small when he's an adult. I'm working on a new enclosure now. I will post video of it as it progresses.

[brandonashplant]

AWESOME!!! how big does he get though?

[RussellAllen55]

@brandonashplant He is about 1 meter long right now. He may get twice that big, but 1 1/2 meters is probably more like it.

[jplumber100]

Very cool i raised these guys for years i had a 4 footer in an enclosure that was 9 ft by 6 ft in my 2nd fl apartment 

[15cwilks]

Thank you for taking care of your caiman so well! You don't usually see someone actually plan for their future!

[thebigdaddygeo]

how long can i keep my alligator in a 120 gal tank?? he only about 10in long lmk b4 i pay 200 for it

[thebigdaddygeo]

thanks bro

[FattyDudley]

How can you clean this enclosure??!! How often do you clean it? Are dwarf caiman poop big? Do you still have Jackson?

[RussellAllen55]

@FattyDudley Thanks, glad you like it. I clean it by getting in there and looking for poop, it's not difficult. I inspect and clean it a couple of times a week, and his poop is about the same as a small dog but easier to pick up,(unless he poops in the water, which is rare). And yes, I still have him. Hes about 39"-40" long now.

[FattyDudley]

@RussellAllen55 cool, man. Nice to know Jackson's doing fine. He's awesome.

[FattyDudley]

AWESOME! It's cool how you built a pond for Jackson. Most people buy crocodilians as babies and sell them when they get a little too big. They are just getting crocodilians for the novelty effect. I wish I could have a Chinese Alligator as a pet but I don't want to risk my life... Maybe hire someone to take care of the Chinese Alligator? lol

[Thorifying]

how old is it? also great video man!

[RussellAllen55]

@Thorifying He's about three years old now. he was a little over two when I made the video. And thanks for the comment.

[thebigdaddygeo]

how much u pay for all of that????????

[RussellAllen55]

@thebigdaddygeo Hey. If you look bck at the earlier comments I laid out what it cost me.

[badazrang3r]

awsome caiman and great job! noone seems to be answering my question so im hoping your the one to be able to. i am looking to purchase a dwarf caiman but i cannot find any online store that sells them. i dont like in a area were they are sold in local pet shops and they are never at any expos i go to. any sugestions? thanks and five star video!

[nikesk8er10]

Hey man nice job on that!! I am wanting to get a Dwarf Caiman because of their small adult size. Are the legal to keep in the state of Georgia? And do you need a permit? What size of an adult cage do you need for one? And how much would it cost for an adult cage?

thanks,

Bruce D. (nikesk8er10)

[RussellAllen55]

@nikesk8er10 I don't know what the laws are in Georgia, but most places don't allow one inside the city limits.

As to the size of an adult's cage, for a Schneider's "Smooth Fronted" Caiman the minimum recomended is at least 3 square meters and 6 square meters of water. Other sources say the land and water areas should be equal. I would assume the same would hold for a Cuvier's " Wedge Headed" Caiman.

The cost of such an encloser would depend on what you made it out of, several hundred $'s.

[Dwoolyman]

Excellent commitment .  . . and a super looking specimen . Ten thumbs up from a previous "keeper".

[RussellAllen55]

@Dwoolyman Thank you.  He's great!

[alexafergie1001]

awww! hes sooo cute! ive been trying to find a dwarf caiman but i can only find an american alligator.....oh well i guess ill just settle for it...

[xXpartynakedXx]

nice caiman and setup bro. i cant wait till mine outgrows her tank and i get to build her something like this.

[RussellAllen55]

Thank's for the compliment. He's about 2 1/2 years old in this video.

I went to your YouTube page and saw your set up. The 55 gal is OK for the size of your caiman. But you should provide "land" area for it to get out of the water. And be aware that it will outgrow the tank before you know it! So, if you don't have the cash needed to provide a continuingly expanding habitat, you should probably consider giving it to someone that can. I don't mean to be a downer, but "crocs" aren't cheep!

[cameronmrivera]

WOW!! VERY AWESOME JOB!! wish i had the time and money to do that! How old is that Caiman? i have a small juvenile only about 9 inches. keep up the good work!!

[DrExploadsAlot]

crocadillians hold there mouth open while basking the help regulate there body temp.

[RussellAllen55]

@DrExploadsAlot You are most likely correct. He was out of the water for most of the afternoon while I was building the pond and may have been over heated. He usually doesn't "bask" so I'm not used to seeing him with his mouth open like that. Except when he's underwater hunting fish, then he closes his eyes and lays on the bottom with his mouth open waiting for a fish to investigate. Then CHOMP!

[crikeyzelasko]

@RussellAllen55 that could be why his mouth is open but i think it was because when crocidilians are at moving water like the waterfall sometimes they will stay there with their mouths open and wait for fish to fly by and grab them ive seen it on animal planet and discovery shows ha ------ also i think you should get a turtle or another caiman(diff species so they don't breed) to make your little miniature jungle even cooler

[RussellAllen55]

@Waybueno I hardly ever try to "hold him". However, he does let me touch/inspect him from time to time without issue.

I have learned that his behavior is a little unique compared to other dwarf caiman owners that I've conversed with. He doesn't hide all of the time, doesn't jump into the water every time I enter his enclosure, and has never even tried to bite me. But I guess that goes hand in hand with not trying to "hold" him. So, bottom line? He isn't threatened by me. Or me by him.

[MrPetlover45]

awesome job dude

[RussellAllen55]

@MrPetlover45 Thank you. I appreciate your comment.

[CorbinDCreptiles]

DUDE THAT IS SICK !

awesome job !

[RussellAllen55]

@CorbinDCreptiles Thanks! I only want to do what I can to make his life as full as possible.

[CorbinDCreptiles]

@RussellAllen55 well, you did it right !

lol

[aGUYnamedCODYCARTER]

how much all together did this cost



[RussellAllen55]

@aGUYnamedCODYCARTER Hard to say. I already had the plants and the styrofoam, most of the lumber came from other projects, the filter/water pump was from an aquarium I used to have, and the stone was salvage from a re-landscaping job. But if I had to guess, with the filter, pond liner, waterbed heating pad,lights, heaters, paint, and everything else....$600.00 or so, if I bought everything new. Not counting the labor to paint it and put it all together.

[KuchikiJ]

did he ever attack you?

[RussellAllen55]

@KuchikiJ He has never attacked me or even tried. He snapped at my hand when once when he was still very young and not used to me. Since then he has grown comfortable with me and we get along fine.

[Tarantulaboy1997]

this is an awesome habitat!!!! how big do these guys get when they are adult?

[RussellAllen55]

@Tarantulaboy1997 Sorry I haven't replied sooner. Males of this species can get up to 6 or 7 feet, but around 5 feet is more common.  Females about 4 to 4 1/2 feet.

[Tarantulaboy1997]

this is an awesome habitat!!!! how big do these guys get when they are adult?

[Diamond0000000000000]

Vey nice

[IvoryReptiles]

Great job!!

[RussellAllen55]

@IvoryReptiles Thanks!

[HuntsmanExotics]

Good vision of the outcome, I'm not very good at "decorating" enclosures. Nice size caiman as well.

[RussellAllen55]

@HuntsmanExotics Thanks! I'm trying to make him as comfortable as possible since he will never be able to live the life he was born to. And yes, he is growing very well. Although, all of the changes he has had to endure during the "remodel" has affected his usually enthusiastic appetite.

[dwarfcaiman09]

@RussellAllen55

thats normal ,they are very stressful , give him a few days/weeks to settle down

a

[dwarfcaiman09]

nice job mate !!! also a great vid

he is much happyer now i guess

next year im going to build a new cage for the Dwarf , i have to wait for my new house , and the dwarf is happy now in his habitat so there is no rush

keep staying updating !!!

it looks great now

[RussellAllen55]

@dwarfcaiman09 I appreciate your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video even if the quality wasn't very good. I'm still learning my new camera.

[dwarfcaiman09]

@RussellAllen55

no problem dude , and the quality is not that bad ..

im getting my new camera today or tomorrow :P