They should be left to the experienced hobbyist that can provide proper care and handling. Small Niles can be kept in a small terrarium, although adults and sub-adults will need custom housing that provides a water area large enough for swimming and deep enough for full submersion of the animal. Small animals can be kept on aspen, vermiculite, lizard litters, and aquarium gravel and water combinations. They will dig though. Make sure that the substrate, regardless of its type, can be changed easily and that in between changes, feces can be removed.
Young animals can accept insects enriched with vitamins, and prepared canned foods.
The animal's water area must also be large enough for swimming and deep enough for the animal to fully submerse itself. Care should be exercised, as with any animal, that there are no dangers associated with housing decorations. These can be sharp edges on rocks, climbing areas that allow the animal to access heating and lighting sources, and so forth. For decoration use live or artificial plants and provide driftwood and rocks for climbing. General temperature requirements should range from 70 F in the cool spot to 90 F in the basking areas by day, with moderate tank temperatures of 78 F - 85 F. Keep nighttime temperatures in the high 60s to the low 70s.