How to Build a Miniature Crocodile Habitat

Miniature crocodiles are not pets for the faint of heart. The term "miniature" or "dwarf" is relative when discussing crocodiles. Full-sized crocodiles grow as long as 12 to 14 feet. Miniature species grow to less than half that size, but this is hard to believe when a pet handler shows you a 6-inch hatchling. Hatchlings and young crocodiles live well in a modified aquarium or terrarium. Larger adults need specially-constructed habitats. Some hobbyists build a greenhouse with a pond for their crocodiles.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Under gravel filter
  • Gravel
  • Submersible heater
  • Terracotta plant pot
  • Large flat stones
  • Basking light
  • Aquarium plants
  • Water thermometer
  • Reptile thermometer, 2
  • Aquarium lid
  • Full spectrum bulbs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose the right size aquarium for your crocodile. It must be large enough to accommodate both land and water features. Measure your crocodile from the end of the snout to the anus. This is the snout-vent length (SVL) and leaves out the tail. The land section of your enclosure should be three times the SVL in width and four times as long. The water should be four times the SVL wide and five times as long. Be sure to plan. The average new hatchling triples its size in the first year, so choose a container that allows for healthy growth. According to Crocodilian, a good first-year tank is six feet long and four feet wide, with a depth of three feet deep.

    • 2

      Line the bottom of the tank with an under gravel filter. These filters remove the ammonia from the water. There are many on the market. Follow your manufacturer's directions to put your filter together. Cover the filter with gravel.

    • 3

      Place a submersible heater in the water section of the tank. Cover the heater with an inverted terracotta plant pot. This ensures that your crocodile won't bit the heater and get electrocuted.

    • 4

      Build the land portion of the tank. Place large flat rocks on one side of the aquarium. Build a hill high enough to rise above the water level. Make several layers of flat rocks to create a small beach.

    • 5

      Clip the basking light to one side of the land area of your habitat. Basking lights are available from any pet store and are simple light bulb assemblies that clip to the side of an aquarium. They use incandescent bulbs as a heat source.

    • 6

      Place two or three aquarium plants at the water's edge. Hatchlings like to have a place to hide.

    • 7

      Place an underwater thermometer in the water section of the aquarium. Reptile thermometers usually stick to the side of a dry aquarium. They show the optimal temperature for your pet. Place one thermometer an inch or two above the rock under the basking light. Place the other thermometer on another section of land.

    • 8

      Fill the aquarium with 12 inches of water. Turn on the heater and filter.

    • 9

      Place full spectrum UVA and UVB light bulbs in the lid of the aquarium. Put the lid on the aquarium. Turn on the lid lights and the basking light. Let the tank run for 24 hours to clear the chlorine and reach optimal temperatures.

    • 10

      Check your temperatures. Optimal water temperature is about 80 degrees. The land section has two temperatures. Under the basking light, the temperature should reach between 90 and 95 degrees. The cooler section of land should remain between 80 and 85 degrees. The crocodile moves between these three sections to regulate its body temperature.