Caiman

Another wonderful reptile is that of caiman and today's post is all about the river dwelling creatures. They are carnivorous and part of the alligatorid crocodylians family, found near Central and South America. They range from 3 ft in length to an large 13 ft long. Although some people consider caiman as crocodiles, they are actually related more closely to alligators.

Adult Caiman

Females can lay between 20-65 eggs on average per clutch. Like most crocodylians, caiman create a mound to lay their eggs in. The mother will guard the eggs even if it means going without food for several months. Mother caimans take care of their young even after they hatch. She will guard them and help them hatch if they are struggling to break through their shell. Furthermore, she will carry them from the nesting mound to the 'nursery' pool where she will care for not just her own, but other caiman young. Out of all of the reptile species, caiman share the most mothering characteristics when it comes to caring for their young. They are also very careful and gentle with their jaws when they need to be. 

Baby Caiman

As they are carnivorous, expect their prey to be large. In the wild, their diet is that of  fish and amphibians as juveniles, becoming larger amphibians, reptiles and mammals as they grow.

The topic of crocodylians as pets is quite controversial. As babies, they are deceptive as they are small and appear harmless. This makes them easy for someone to sell to unsuspecting buyers. After around a year, their behaviour will become more boisterous and usually leads to the owner releasing the animal into the wild or killing it. Those who  are serious about caring for one of these dangerous reptiles should think seriously about this decision. They are not naturally a tame animal and can bite and kill, although some can be 'trained' to be calmer than their more wild counterparts. The key with caiman and other alligators and crocodiles is to never ever drop your guard.

Caiman Require Amphibious Surroundings

Personally I would never think of keeping one. The risk outweighs the rewards for me but I respect anyone who can properly look after and care for these magnificent animals. As always, a DWA is required to keep one of these.

There are some websites that sell crocodylian species- some are well respected and ask for a copy of your DWA license before they sell you anything and others are irresponsible  and will sell them to anyone, which is an utter disgrace! If you do decide to get one, ensure you do a LOT of research and ensure that you are capable of keeping and caring for these animals.