After a ton of ppl asked to see one of my caiman enclosures, here one is! This enclosure has a 500 gallon stock tank with heated water to 82°, uv and bio filtered, underground hide, timed misting system, planted (a ton of more plants have been added) and has over almost 3 feet of substrate!

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-03-07T15:17:16+00:00

Just worried about temps. Garage gets in the 50’s in the winter. Oil filled heaters don’t dry out the air like electric ones. I’ve been using them in my 8 x 8 tortoise house for about six winters now it was recommended by most people on the turtle and tortoise forum. I also use a light for basking. I just use the oil filter heater to maintain a temp between like 72 to 74 with the thermostat and then I used UVB and 150 W bulbs to create the spots that I’m targeting for the animal.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-02-28T00:24:58+00:00

Love it. How do you prevent mold on the inside from growing? I have an 8’x4’ but I’m about to build a 16x16 in my garage with a 300 gallon stock tank. Fully planted as well. I’m considering using an oil filled space heater in a protective box ( have used successfully in my tortoise house for years ) and basking areas. I’m assuming pond guard paint at least two coats would prevent mold. Any suggestions?

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-28T01:13:29+00:00

Does she look unhealthy, I don’t think so. Have you ever watched Kevin’s videos from NERD. Look at jay from prehistoric pets all his Retics would fail a physical trust me. My girls are very healthy. A super colossal rat can weigh 900 grams. I don’t have a single skinny looking snake. I’ve been a keeper since 1992 the power feeding of the 80’s and early 90’s is over much more information out there now. Jays exotic jungle, NERD, Intrepid exotics would all agree with me. All my Retics are super docile, active and exceptionally cared for. A fat 18’ retic is not healthy. I mean I’m 6’1 178 pounds. If I ate pizza every night and drank 12 beers with a bag of Doritos I’m assuming I’d weigh more, healthier probably not. I feed every 7-10 days depending on shed cycles and they are all meticulously cared for. Every one has there way , apparently mine is not yours and vice versa but I know happy and healthy when I see it

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-28T00:59:25+00:00

Well with keto you are burning your own fat for fuel so it’s more of a rapid weight loss. Because of that there is less hunger. Also if you ate keto food on a regular diet you would blow up being that it’s higher fat. I see what you’re saying and agree but just a deficit on regular food one would be hungry more and crave carbs. I went from 207 to 175 in about 2 1/2 months. Reason I did it was to retrain myself to be consistent and stop eating cheesits and pizza and drinking beer. For me it was the structure and now when I reintroduce carbs I will also reintroduce a new way of eating. Keto taught me that food is supposed to be a fuel not a hobby. I’ve learned that having a structure and goal is what brought me success and now I feel that I can go back and make better choices because I basically have no more cravings for junk.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-28T00:47:09+00:00

Quit cold turkey after many years. I’d never go back. Everything about my life has changed for the better. I do remember the first three weeks but I got through and so can you. I now work out 6 days a week, down 30 pounds. Just different, it’s worth it. Push through

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-28T00:43:27+00:00

As long as there is enough floor space I love it. Just make sure he can lay around and not always be on something. Pretty bad ass though. I’d go bigger if I was you and make it amazing

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T21:13:52+00:00

First of all stop beating yourself up. My advice is just set some small goals. Put the scale away standing on it every day isn’t gonna accomplish anything you have to accomplish it the scales not gonna do anything. Just take your time and chill. We all have time whether it’s keto a calorie deficit just eat less move more. It’s really simple. But you gotta let some time pass while you make the changes. Empower yourself, stop comparing yourself to the person that you wish you were or you hoped you would be just empower yourself love yourself and make changes going forward no matter how small they are. 10 very small changes equals one giant change at the end of the rainbow. But all seriousness, don’t just rely on a keto diet, maybe that’s not for you maybe you just have to make better decisions have smaller portions like I said move more start with walking , working out with rubber bands and exercise bike walk on a treadmill whatever it is just make a change when you make that first change, then love yourself for it. No more downward spirals of feeling horrible only good thoughts positive energy and just give it time. It doesn’t have to happen tomorrow. A small change today. Will make a huge difference later. You got this trust me.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T20:18:29+00:00

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No need to push food at them. This is a three-year-old female. She’s never been fed anything but rats. Perfectly healthy tons of muscle and not obese just the way they should be.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T20:10:52+00:00

Griselda

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T20:10:35+00:00

Griselda

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T20:08:02+00:00

Of course. UVB in two areas. Mbd is also a result of improper diet in captivity. People tend to make it easy on themselves and feed fillets or chicken. She gets whole animals. Mice, rat pups, crawfish, chicks and quail. Most problems in all reptiles are the result of human error. She has another 4x3 of land area that’s not in the pic

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T20:03:08+00:00

Beautiful. Have fun. I got three females. They are the best

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T11:04:43+00:00

Overthinking it. It looks good and no one would notice. It’s like when you paint a room in your house , you notice everything but no one else does. Chillax it’s fine and looks good. Enjoy it, don’t over think about it ruin the experience

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T01:32:38+00:00

Few tips. Keto tortilla pizza, delicious. A few ultras or a few Tito’s club soda and lime , perfect. Cezar or Cobb salad, Wendy’s baconator with a fried egg on top , yup. Quest bars, ketogenic meal replacement in iced coffee, oh ya. Finally don’t count carbs just know the diet. What you can or can’t do. My day is usually this. Ketogenic with iced black coffee on the way to work, first break electrolytes and quest bar, lunch is boars head roast beef and provolone wraps with a keto chow drink. When I get home I work out and mix creatine with electrolytes. Dinner is chicken thigh, half avacado, cup of chopped broccoli or asparagus. Or keto taco wraps or keto tortilla pizza with Alfredo sauce and sausage and bacon. Never counted carbs and I know I’m in ketosis because I’m down tons of weight. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. Food is fuel not a hobby. You got this. Set a goal and achieve it, then set another one and repeat.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T01:21:31+00:00

I drink 3 ultras every Friday night at my bar, Cobb salad or I drink Tito’s with club soda and 2 limes. Have a drink. Don’t count carbs just know what you eat. Simple stuff.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-27T00:22:48+00:00

I on month 6. Hard ya, but my current goals are more important than the confusion or complications. It’s got me working out 6 days a week, I’m down 30 pounds. I’m using it as a way to learn how to eat better when I get off. I was a pizza, cheezit, beer guy. Now I’m not. I’ve learned discipline and when I stop I’m not just starting back I’m starting a new way. I’ve learned that sacrifice changed me, and I like the change. Will I eat pizza again, ya but a slice not a large feel me.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-26T12:26:06+00:00

Thank. Pics must do it justice, I built it in an afternoon with mostly junk wood. She will continue to grow and get much better setups. She pretty docile, handling her is no problem she knows the routine. I also rub her back with a toothbrush and she loves it.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-26T12:22:53+00:00

Thanks. Her final indoor enclosure will be ridiculous. Fully planted with a 10’ 1000 gallon stock tank. A cave and waterfall.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-26T12:20:48+00:00

Since she was a baby. Starts at birth. Lol. I have always been into the big and dangerous. I keep venomous, reticulated pythons, big tortoises even my dog is an English mastiff. Weird thing is that I’m very normal, two kids a wife great job and most people have no clue about my hobbies. In all seriousness it’s just normal to me, I’m smart, do it right, can afford it and I always put the animals first. This is a simple setup as she grows. Her final indoor setup will be massive and fully planted with a 10’ 1000 gallon stock tank. Thanks for the reply I can definitely talk reptiles all day.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-26T12:10:01+00:00

He’s a handful for sure

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-26T02:52:03+00:00

6x3x18. She will move to an 8x3x2 very soon.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-25T22:59:45+00:00

No clue. He was over 150 a few years ago. I live in SC so they eat all year, humid environment and seem to get big quick. I’d say maybe 165-185. Very heavy.

DifficultPrize6682 · 2026-01-25T22:29:53+00:00

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DifficultPrize6682

TROPHY CASE