These caimans are mainly nocturnal.
Adults feed on fish, amphibians, small mammals, birds, crabs, shrimp, molluscs, and other invertebrates, which they catch in the water or on land.
Juveniles eat fewer fish, but also consume crustaceans, tadpoles, frogs, and snails, as well as land invertebrates, such as beetles.
The prey is mostly swallowed whole and is ground up by stones in the gizzard.
In the Pantanal, Cuvier's dwarf caiman estivates in burrows during the dry season and is able to maintain its temperature around 22 °C (72 °F) for days at a time.

Adult Cuvier's dwarf caimans are usually found singly or in pairs.
The breeding of this species has been little studied, but it does not appear to be seasonal in nature.
The female builds a mound nest out of vegetation and mud somewhere in a concealed location and lays a clutch of 10 to 25 eggs, hiding them under further vegetation.
The incubation period is around 90 days and the sex of the hatchlings depends on the temperature of the nest during that time.
When the eggs begin to hatch, the female opens the nest in response to the calls made by the young.
Newly emerged juveniles have a coating of mucus and may delay entering the water for a few days until this has dried.
Its continuing presence on their skin is believed to reduce algal growth.
The female stays with the young for a few weeks, after which time the hatchlings disperse.
The young grow at a rate around 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) per year and reach sexual maturity around 8 years old.

Cuvier's dwarf caiman is considered to be a keystone species whose presence in the ecosystem maintains a healthy balance of organisms.
In its absence, fish, such as piranhas, might dominate the environment.
The eggs and newly hatched young are most at risk and are preyed on by birds, snakes, rats, raccoons, and other mammals.
Adults are protected by the bony osteoderms under the scales and their main predators are jaguars, green anacondas (Eunectes murinus), and large boa constrictors (Boa constrictor).

The Cuvier's dwarf caiman is the only crocodilian species that seemingly does not perform the near-universal "death roll" technique used by other extant crocodilians for feeding or intra-specific combat.
However, this may only be circumstantial, as specimens tested for the behavior may have been acting uncooperative with the researchers.
These caimans are mainly nocturnal. Adults feed on fish, amphibians, small mammals, birds, crabs, shrimp, molluscs, and other invertebrates, which they catch in the water or on land. Juveniles eat fewer fish, but also consume crustaceans, tadpoles, frogs, and snails, as well as land invertebrates, such as beetles. The prey is mostly swallowed whole and is ground up by stones in the gizzard. In the Pantanal, Cuvier's dwarf caiman estivates in burrows during the dry season and is able to maintain its temperature around 22 °C (72 °F) for days at a time.
Adult Cuvier's dwarf caimans are usually found singly or in pairs. The breeding of this species has been little studied, but it does not appear to be seasonal in nature. The female builds a mound nest out of vegetation and mud somewhere in a concealed location and lays a clutch of 10 to 25 eggs, hiding them under further vegetation. The incubation period is around 90 days and the sex of the hatchlings depends on the temperature of the nest during that time. When the eggs begin to hatch, the female opens the nest in response to the calls made by the young. Newly emerged juveniles have a coating of mucus and may delay entering the water for a few days until this has dried. Its continuing presence on their skin is believed to reduce algal growth. The female stays with the young for a few weeks, after which time the hatchlings disperse. The young grow at a rate around 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) per year and reach sexual maturity around 8 years old.
Cuvier's dwarf caiman is considered to be a keystone species whose presence in the ecosystem maintains a healthy balance of organisms. In its absence, fish, such as piranhas, might dominate the environment. The eggs and newly hatched young are most at risk and are preyed on by birds, snakes, rats, raccoons, and other mammals. Adults are protected by the bony osteoderms under the scales and their main predators are jaguars, green anacondas (Eunectes murinus), and large boa constrictors (Boa constrictor). 
The Cuvier's dwarf caiman is the only crocodilian species that seemingly does not perform the near-universal "death roll" technique used by other extant crocodilians for feeding or intra-specific combat. However, this may only be circumstantial, as specimens tested for the behavior may have been acting uncooperative with the researchers.
Cuvier's dwarf caiman