Dracaena guianensis, popularly known as Caiman Lizard, is among the most popular lizards in the world. Belonging to the Teiidae family, they have green bodies with bony plates and an orange or red head. Although their most natural habitat is semi-aquatic environments like inhabited marshes, flooded forests, and streams, many people want to keep them as pets, too. However, are caiman lizards good pets?
If you’re doing research to find a caiman lizard for sale, keep reading. In this article, we’ll discuss everything from behavior to growth of caiman lizards.
A Basic Caiman Lizard Care Sheet
| Care Level | Advanced |
| Temperament | Docile |
| Native Area | South America |
| Average Size | 2-5 feet |
| Cage Requirements | Minimum 8×4×4 |
| Suitable Temperature | 84-88 °F |
| Humidity Levels | Over 70{a47be734f0df8d7f120a7df290cf380c79376e8356d1aab405383bb23aa6ce67} |
| Food Preferences | Mostly freshwater crustaceans, occasional fruit |
| Feeding frequency | Adults: every 2-3 days | Babies & juveniles: daily |
| Life Span | Over 10 years |
Are Caiman Lizards Good Pets? Things to Consider
Caiman Lizard Size – How Big Can They Get?
When we study the size of lizards found in America, caiman lizards come at the top of the list. The size of hatchlings ranges between 10 and 16 inches, including their tails. They grow quickly and double their size in the very first year.
Regarding full growth, caiman lizards are like others in their family, reaching sexual maturity and full growth potential in three years. A male’s size is four to five feet, while females measure two to four feet. Their average weight ranges between 8-12 pounds.
Caiman Lizard Housing Requirements
They are often considered suitable pets for advanced keepers, as they require a large enclosure. However, you can keep babies and juvenile caimans in enclosures measuring 4’ × 2’ with a minimum of 2’ height. Once they enter their second year, you can move them to an adult home.
These are the suitable dimensions for an adult male caiman lizard:
- Length: 8 feet
- Width: 4 feet
- Height: 4 feet
For a female adult, the average dimensions are:
- Length: 6 feet
- Width: 3 feet
- Height: 3 feet
It’s important to remember that caimans are aquatic animals, so they like larger areas where they can soak and swim.
Are Caiman Lizards Good Pets for a Cage Setup?
How you set up a caiman lizard cage is as important as its size. A lizard cage has three main elements: water area, land area, and vertical climbing spaces. A suitable land mass is two or three times larger than the water area because it allows the lizard to dry itself and move around.
You can enhance the setup by installing branches over the water area. Caimans like to climb branches, especially those hanging over water. You can build horizontal and vertical climbing areas for caiman lizards to make their habitats more natural. When it comes to the water area, caiman lizards require something in which they can fully submerge themselves.
These are the bare minimum requirements for an effective cage setup. The bigger the setup, the better, as it helps your caiman lizard thrive.
Are Caiman Lizards Good Pets for Aquatic Environments?
Since caiman lizards are aquatic species, they require a significant body of water to enjoy themselves. The usual depth they need to swim around is 12” -16”. Moreover, regular filtration is crucial because lizards aren’t the cleanest eaters and often defecate in the water.
Skim the water twice daily to remove as much physical debris as possible. Moreover, changing the water completely twice or three times a week is advisable. Regular water removal is essential if you want to keep your caiman pet healthy.
Substrate Requirements
Caiman lizards are tropical animals requiring a substrate that resembles their natural environment. A suitable substrate choice is a mixture of cypress mulch, sand, and topsoil. It is a sandy environment that works well with high humidity and allows lizards to dig naturally. Try to clean the substrate of debris daily and change it completely every two to three weeks.
Lighting Requirements
Suitable repitle lighting is also crucial for your caiman because it provides vitamin absorption, warmth, and psychological benefits. 12 hours of UVB exposure helps caimans synthesize vitamin D3, essential for calcium absorption. Although UVA is not as important, it helps them regulate eating patterns and behaviors.
Temperature & Humidity Requirements
Since the Amazon River Basin is their natural habitat, where the temperature stays around 80°F, providing a similar environment is ideal. The lowest temperature you can allow is 70-75°F, while the ideal basking area range is 95-100°F.
The usual humidity in their natural habitat is 80{a47be734f0df8d7f120a7df290cf380c79376e8356d1aab405383bb23aa6ce67} and can go up to 90{a47be734f0df8d7f120a7df290cf380c79376e8356d1aab405383bb23aa6ce67} during the rainy season. That’s the biggest challenge for a keeper, so only advanced keepers are advised to obtain pet caiman lizards.
Are Caiman Lizards Good Pets When It Comes to Diet?
Caimans usually consume shrimps, aquatic snails, and clams in their wild settings. Pet lizards usually eat snails and eat canned food. You can also serve them fruit, such as mango, kiwi, papaya, and bananas.
Caiman Lizard for Sale at XYZReptiles
If you plan to get this pet lizard, look no further than XYZReptiles. We have over 35 years of experience in the herpetology industry and continue bringing people their favorite pet lizards. We combine our love for animals with technical expertise and serve people unlike anyone else. The positive reviews from our customers are a testament to the quality we have been providing.
So, contact us today for these beautiful pets and more.
