reptile for this beast?

[CTU2fan]

In a tall tank like that most reptiles a going to be a pain to take care of.

Very good point it will be a pain to reach into that thing at 4' high.

What would also be very cool is a paludarium type of setup with some fish in the water and arboreals like red eye treefrogs or something. Or (I know not herps) a brackish setup with mangrove roots etc, with monos, scats, gobies, and archers. The tank is tall enough where you could actually lower the water level and let the archers hunt. How cool would that be?

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

You're asking about using a 400g tank for reptiles HERE?

Sacrilege...

Actually, I'd go for a dwarf caiman. Females top out at 3-4 feet, though captive specimens don't get as large and grow very slowly. Or maybe some kind of tree boa... I personally don't get why people own reptiles. As a rule they aren't active, they smell bad, you only get to see them eat once a week tops, and many larger species are happy to bite your hand off and would happily devour you if you slipped on their cage floor and passed out (though your housecat may do the same thing if you're out too long ).

I normally don't respond negatively when someone is stating their opinion, but this post is chock full of inaccuracies that I had to comment on.

1. Dwarf caiman = No Way!
2. It is not a rule that reptiles are inactive. Sure, some are notoriously lazy...but please don't stereotype.
3. Reptiles do not smell bad.....bad husbandry smells bad. Most reptiles have no odor, with the exception of some that have musks.
4. Not all reptiles "eat once a week tops". My bearded dragon eats every day. Besides, who cares if you do have a reptile that only eats once a week? It is not the only interesting facet in herpetology.
5. Reptiles bite out of fear and stress....not to eat people.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[Hilltopperpete]

come on, a dwarf caimen in a 5ft tank? get real. maybe i shoulda said no gators or crocs either but i thought that woulda been a given.

Here's a chart on Dwarf Caiman growth rates-- with a females especially, it would be 2-3 years before you'd need another tank. Just a thought... Females essentially stop growing at about 2.5' and then grow very gradually for the rest of their lives.

Growth rate:
3 mths: 30cm, 95g.
6 mths: 35cm, 150g.
12mths: 42cm, 250g.
2 yrs: 53cm, 570g.
4 yrs: 77cm, 4 kg.
8 yrs: 94cm, 3.6 kg.
12 yrs: 90cm, 6.1 kg. (I think this is for a female - so it is smaller).
20 yrs: 118cm, 11.5 kg.

Not saying you should, just saying you could-- for a couple years-- keep a Dwarf Caiman in your tank. I still recommend building a different enclosure for a climbing reptile-- maybe doing it in a sun room to save on heating.

 

[swede]

get a Gila! or a beaded lizard! I don't even know if its legal! you could also have a really cool setup for an axolot or 2. Giant salamander....... you could have a cool biotype terrarium. Spray some foam on the back and either paint it or cover it in moss, then add holes and place plants in. You could have quite a nice frog, newt, salamander, toad ecosystem! I know theyre not reptiles but its still a cool setup IMHO.

 

[swede]

If all else fails, ANT FARM!

 

[freshwaterfishing]

Chinese water dragons are really cool, put a waterfall in there and then a nice climbing background and lots of brances for them to climb on. Beautiful colours and they will eat right from your hand.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

yeah obviously no caiman. that would make one hell of a dartfrog tank

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Here's a chart on Dwarf Caiman growth rates-- with a females especially, it would be 2-3 years before you'd need another tank. Just a thought... Females essentially stop growing at about 2.5' and then grow very gradually for the rest of their lives.

Growth rate:
3 mths: 30cm, 95g.
6 mths: 35cm, 150g.
12mths: 42cm, 250g.
2 yrs: 53cm, 570g.
4 yrs: 77cm, 4 kg.
8 yrs: 94cm, 3.6 kg.
12 yrs: 90cm, 6.1 kg. (I think this is for a female - so it is smaller).
20 yrs: 118cm, 11.5 kg.

Not saying you should, just saying you could-- for a couple years-- keep a Dwarf Caiman in your tank. I still recommend building a different enclosure for a climbing reptile-- maybe doing it in a sun room to save on heating.

that tank would not work for a caiman. you would need another tank quick. they need to move. iv been reseaching these guys for a while. now i could sit here and critize all the things you said wrong. but im gonna be nice. that tank would not work for long. if that chart is accurate than that person does not feed well.

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

now i could sit here and critize all the things you said wrong. but im gonna be nice.

Hey...c'mon....I criticized nicely.

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

If all else fails, ANT FARM!