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Anonymous
As a general rule you can expect caimans to grow to a length of six to seven feet; alligators can be expected to reach twelve to thirteen feet in length. Persons selling crocodilians as pets will most likely lower these numbers in the hopes of getting a sale--dont be fooled. Males are the larger sex, so if size is an issue try to get a female. You may also find that dwarf caimans are advertised. While they are on the smaller side, again, dont let someone swindle you. A four to five foot dwarf is more than enough reptile.
Now that we know what alligators and caimans are we will discuss attitude in both the animal and the owner. Can these reptiles be tamed? The real question is: do you have the wherewithal to try? Lets get something straight as pet owners, sightseers, and concerned citizens. Alligators are not loving, tender, or particularly good-natured when it comes to humans. We are mammals, we are weaker, we are usually smaller, and we arent nearly as fast, and any one of those conditions puts us in the food category. But dont abandon all hope yet. Through diligent effort, in theory, any alligator owner can tame (or at least mildly calm) their pets. This entails lengthy physical contact on a daily basis for years on end. You will more than likely reduce its fear of you as a predator, thereby reducing stress for the animal in the long run. These activities should be engaged from the outset when the animal is as young as possible. Even after all that effort you still have to be careful. Your pet will always have the feeding instinct lingering.
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