Oh, and so the family grows.

[froglover27]

well those are some exotic pets(: Im jealous, but how big do u think the dwarf caiman will get?

[S13]

well those are some exotic pets(: Im jealous, but how big do u think the dwarf caiman will get?

I did a wiki search on that Caiman because I've never even heard of them and read that they can get up to 5 ft.

[toxxxickitten]

Oh wow!! You sure did obtain some critters quickly! I'm saddened to hear about the ferret. That just makes me sick. It baffles me how heartless some people are. The Caiman looks awesome and I bet will be a handful!

[LauraCox]

Yeah, I have scrambled like hell for research lately. I'm going to keep her in the 125 gallon tank for now and work on renovating the basement. My plans include a 12' by 10' enclosure with plexiglas walls, a big swimming tub, a halogen basking lamp, and hopefully a couple exo-terra sun-glow professional for UVB. We actually don't know if she's a Little B*tch or a Little Bast*rd as you can't sex caiman until they're about 3 feet so we just decided to call her LB (not as if she'll care). I'll post a picture of her tank as soon as I successfully move it.

Oh, and the ferret is doing great! She has her own bedroom (aptly named the 'Ferret Room') where she has free reign and tons of toys and blankets and fun ferret-stuff. They apparently do best in groups so it looks like i might be contacting a ferret-rescue for a second one once the waters of my home settle a bit.

Here she is on the day I found her next to the container I found her in (the only reason I think she didn't escape is the vet said she has/had a slight cold but should be fine)

[Jenste]

Really looking forward to updates on the expansion to your family! How about some bathtub pictures of LB?

[SkeletalFrog]

Awesome! I've been wanting a Dwarf Caiman for years, but need to wait until I can be sure I'll stay in the same spot for more than a few years. They're wonderful animals, if a bit intensive and costly in terms of care.

If you haven't found it yet, this is IMHO the best resource on crocodilian care: Crocodilian Captive Care FAQ (Caiman, Alligator, Crocodile)

Also, there's a trick I know that you might find useful. Once you get the new tank set up with a nice big filter (my favorite is the Eheim 2217), get some small goldfish and keep them in there for a while before putting the caiman in. This gives time and nutrients for bacteria to colonize the filter, so that once you add the caiman, the filter will be ready to help deal with the extra waste. Plus, you can just leave the goldfish in - at worst, they'll give the caiman a snack, and at best, they'll serve as a "canary in the coal mine" to detect water quality problems before they can hurt the caiman.