The female caiman builds a large mound of mud and vegetation in which to deposit her eggs, which number as many as 60. The heat generated by the organic decomposition of the vegetable material coupled with the warmth of the sun incubates the eggs. The eggs are laid in two layers and the slight heat differential created by this layering helps to determine the sex of the offspring, one layer being predominately male and the other layer, female. The female stays close by her nest, guarding it from predators that would dig up the eggs and eat them. When the eggs begin to hatch the female carefully uncovers the nest and escorts the baby caimans to the water.
Young caimans feed largely on snails.
In some areas where caimans have been eradicated, an increase in certain parasitic flukes has occurred in cattle herds. This is because of an increase in the snail population. Snails are an intermediate host to the flukes. There is a commercial farming effort being developed in Argentina similar to the alligator farms here in Florida. The Museum would like to thank Gatorland, in Orlando, for the loan of the caimans, and the Primate Conservancy, in Tampa, for the loan of the Cotton-top Tamarins.