African Dwarf Crocodile — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

African Dwarf Crocodile — origin: West and Central Africa: forest watercourses, swamps and pools in tropical rainforest (from Senegal to Angola and the Congo Basin)..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side26–29 °C

Warm side30–33 °C

Basking spot32–36 °C

A tropical species: maintain a warm, stable environment with a gradient. A dry hot spot (heat lamp) at 32-36 °C for thermoregulation and drying of the skin. Water temperature maintained at 25-28 °C. A moderate nighttime drop is tolerated (min ~22 °C). Avoid any accessible hot spot that could burn the animal.

Enclosure (adult)

600 × 300 × 150 cm

A very large semi-aquatic enclosure (paludarium or zoo-type installation): a vast, deep pool combined with a dry land area and shelters/burrows.

Indicative minimum dimensions for ONE adult; bigger is always better. The body of water must allow the animal to submerge fully and turn around. SPECIES NOT SUITED TO HOBBYIST KEEPING: CITES Appendix I and EU Annex A (maximum protection) — keeping, transport and transfer are subject to permits/CITES and, depending on the country, to a certificate of competence and an establishment licence. A dangerous animal: provide a double barrier, locking and safety procedures.

Humidity

70–90 %

High, constant humidity, typical of tropical rainforest. The large body of water and good ventilation help maintain humidity without stagnation or mould.

Substrate

Soil/sand mix for the land areaLeaf litter and plant material (shelter and nesting areas)Large body of water (filtered pool) occupying a major part of the enclosure

Provide a dry land area (rest, thermoregulation, egg-laying) and hides/burrows. The nesting substrate (a mound of plant matter/soil) is essential for breeding. Avoid any ingestible substrate liable to cause an obstruction.

UVB

Recommended

UVB recommended for vitamin D3 synthesis and bone health, despite the nocturnal habits: a moderate UVB source (5-6% type, low to moderate UV index) over the land area/hot spot, with the option for the animal to expose itself to it or avoid it. Replace tubes/lamps as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Water source

Always available

The centrepiece of the installation: a deep, spacious pool allowing full immersion and turning around. Water maintained at 25-28 °C, efficiently filtered (high organic load from prey and droppings) and dechlorinated. Regular water changes and monitoring of water quality are essential: dirty water promotes skin and respiratory infections. Easy entry/exit access between water and land.

Origin

Crocodylidae

West and Central Africa: forest watercourses, swamps and pools in tropical rainforest (from Senegal to Angola and the Congo Basin).

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore — Whole fish, crustaceans, amphibians, small mammals (rodents), chicks; in captivity: whole vertebrate prey and, as a supplement, crocodilian-specific pellets.

Feed whole prey for adequate calcium intake; supplement with calcium/vitamins if needed. An exclusively fish-based diet risks a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency — vary the prey or supplement. Frequency adapted to age (juveniles more often, adults more spaced out); risk of obesity with overfeeding.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 10–20 eggs/young. Egg-laying in a mound of decomposing vegetation providing heat and humidity. Incubation of about 85-105 days; temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). The female guards the nest and assists with hatching. Captive breeding is reserved for specialised facilities.

Health watch points

Metabolic bone disease / skeletal disorders (calcium-phosphorus imbalance, insufficient D3, UVB)
Respiratory infections ('runny nose') linked to poor water or environmental quality
Stomatitis / oral and dental infections
Bacterial or fungal skin infections (water quality, pool hygiene)
Thiamine (B1) deficiency on a diet too rich in fish; obesity from overfeeding
Trauma (bites between conspecifics, impacts against the enclosure, broken claws/teeth)

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for African Dwarf Crocodile.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the african dwarf crocodile.

Is the African dwarf crocodile a dangerous animal despite its small size?▾

Yes: although it is the smallest known crocodilian, its bite is still capable of inflicting serious injuries, or even an amputation. Classified as a dangerous species and listed in CITES Appendix I (EU Annex A), it generally requires a certificate of competence and an establishment permit, with a double barrier and locking on the enclosure. No bare-handed handling is conceivable, even with an individual accustomed to human presence.

What enclosure should be provided for an adult dwarf crocodile?▾

Plan for an absolute minimum of 600 x 300 x 150 cm for a single adult, in the form of a paludarium or zoo-type setup combining a large, deep pool and a dry terrestrial area with shelters or burrows. The pool must allow the animal to submerge completely and turn over, and bigger is always better.

What size does the African dwarf crocodile reach as an adult?▾

Adults generally measure between 150 and 190 cm in total length, rarely exceeding 2 metres, making it a very modest species for a crocodilian. Males are generally slightly larger than females.

What temperature and basking spot should be maintained?▾

Provide a dry basking spot between 32 and 36 °C for thermoregulation and drying the skin, a warm zone around 30-33 °C and a cool side around 26-29 °C, with water kept between 25 and 28 °C. At night, a moderate drop to around 22 °C is tolerated, but no directly accessible heat source should be able to burn the animal.

What humidity and substrate suit it?▾

This humid tropical forest species needs high, stable humidity, between 70 and 90%, made easier by the large body of water and good ventilation. As for substrate, provide a soil/sand mix for the terrestrial area and a layer of leaf litter, essential particularly for egg-laying, while avoiding any ingestible material.

What does the African dwarf crocodile eat and how often?▾

In the wild it hunts crustaceans, amphibians, fish and small mammals; in captivity, it is fed whole vertebrate prey (fish, rodents, chicks) and possibly specific crocodilian pellets. A diet based exclusively on fish exposes it to a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency: prey should be varied or supplemented, and the frequency adapted to the age to avoid obesity.

Does the dwarf crocodile need UVB lighting?▾

Yes, despite its nocturnal habits: a moderate UVB source (around 5-6%, low to moderate UV index) is recommended above the terrestrial area or basking spot for vitamin D3 synthesis and bone health, the animal needing to be able to expose itself to it or avoid it at will.

Why is the pool's water quality so important?▾

The deep, spacious pool must remain efficiently filtered and kept at 25-28 °C, with easy access between water and land. The organic load from prey and waste is high: soiled water quickly promotes skin and respiratory infections, hence the importance of regular water changes and serious monitoring of water quality.

How long does an African dwarf crocodile live, and is it a long-term commitment?▾

It is an exceptionally long-lived species, with a life expectancy of 40 to 75 years, sometimes more than 70 years in captivity. Acquiring one therefore represents a keeping commitment that far exceeds an active working life.

What are the main health problems encountered?▾

The most common disorders are metabolic bone disease linked to a calcium-phosphorus imbalance or insufficient UVB, respiratory and skin infections promoted by poor water quality, stomatitis, as well as thiamine deficiency or obesity in the case of a diet too rich in fish or overfeeding. Injuries (bites between conspecifics, impacts against the enclosure) also remain possible.

Is breeding feasible for a private keeper?▾

In theory, the species lays 10 to 20 eggs in a mound of decomposing vegetation, with an incubation of 85 to 105 days and temperature-dependent sex determination, the female guarding the nest and assisting with hatching. In practice, this breeding remains reserved for specialized facilities with the necessary authorizations and experience.

Where does this species come from and what is its natural behaviour?▾

Native to forest streams, swamps and pools of West and Central Africa, the dwarf crocodile is a nocturnal, discreet animal that is more terrestrial than most crocodilians: it spends a good part of its time hidden in burrows, sometimes far from water. Despite this reserved temperament, it remains a powerful predator that should never be underestimated.

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