Dwarf Caiman tankmates?

[weston]

I've always been under the idea that caiman (regardless of species) had to be kept alone, but after seeing countless images of zoo enclosures and both public and private aquariums I'm wondering what tankmates can and can't be kept with caiman both while growing up in an aquarium and also in an outdoor pond once adult size? I've seen them in with alot of turtles (sliders/snappers/ect.) and even fish in large enough enclosures. I'm just wondering what people on this form have kept with or keep with their caiman? this would be a future project as I just recently transfered all of my koi into another pond and would like to try a new possibly more challenging pond set up I would also fence in area around pond deep enough nothing could dig out. anyways I would love to raise a dwarf caimam in the same set up as a mata mata and possibly some south american fish like pacu maybe even some other fish once in a pond but it would be fine either way. i can always set up a separate tank for those guys if i was serious enough about getting them. please let me know.

 

[Bertie]

The only thing I would put them with would be turtles, fish are a risk and will most likely be eaten

 

[Viridis]

Even turtles are at risk of being eaten. I've heard numerous stories of people succesfully keeping them together for years, then one day they look in and see dead turtles with large chunks missing, headless turtles, or turtles crushed beyond saving. If the turtle is bigger than the caimans head, it's likely fine, but as with fish; if they can fit it in it's mouth, they will try to eat it.

The best Idea I've seen was keeping Tilapia with caiman. The Tilapia breed fast enough (provided you have cover) that the caiman is unlikely to completely wipe out the population, and it provides free food for the caiman.

They'll likely ignore smaller fish since the energy required to catch is likely more than what it'll get from them, but they'll go after bigger fish for sure.


Important thing to note: Have you ever kept crocs? Caiman aren't that hard imo (need a good filter though!), but they are relatively dangerous and man, can they be ***holes!!! Feeding can also get quite costly.

If you don't have decent amount of experience with crocs, I would seriously consider something less dangerous.

 

[weston]

Ive kept an assortment of aquatic turtles tortoises snakes and even lizards large and small a caiman is really the only thing ive never taken on and is next on my list along with the mata mata. my pond has just been cleared out so he will have a home when hes an adult. feedings shouldnt be a problem either espesially as a hatchling but i couldnt see it really being an issue even as an adult.