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.