Diet composition changes with age, as with many species of crocodilian. It has been shown that the diet of caimans in the wild is dependant upon their habitat preferences. Diet depends on prey availability. They are reported to forage from burrows at night, often near water, but also in the surrounding forest within the territories - which can range for several kilometres. Relatively solitary outside the breeding season, with extensive territories.
Females begin to construct mound nests before the onset of the annual rains.
Nests are often found within very close proximity of termite mounds. The reasons for this are thought to be concerned with maintenance of a high incubation temperature, utilising vented heat from the termite mound. Number of eggs laid is in the range of 10 to 20. Incubation time is very long for a crocodilian, being as long as 115 days. Hatchlings emerge as water levels are rising from the rains.