Care Sheet for Alligators and CrocodilesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.49 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 03/26/2004 |
Main Category: | Aquatic/Land |
Sub Category: | Alligators and Crocodiles |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Bayou Beasts |
Years Experience: | Over 20 Years |
Species: | American Alligators |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | American Alligators and Caiman(Spec, brown, and Yacar) |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Sexing Alligators is very hard unless you know how to probe. The males get much larger than the females. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I give them twice the land surface area as they have water. You should provide any Crocodilian with an area that is at leasts 4 times their body length (tip to tip). |
Lighting and UVB: | I have heard arguments that will go both ways. I have kept them with and without, what I have noticed is they seem to do better overall with the UV lighting(better colors and skin texture). I have noticed some softening of the bones in the upper jaw when UV lighting was absent. Whether or not this has anything to do directly with the condition I couldn’t honestly say, however since placing the UV lighting in the enclosures I have noticed the problem start correcting itself to a point. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | I maintain constant water temps of between 80-85 degrees F with basking temps in the 110-120 range(this is surface temp and not air temps) the abient air temps should be kept in the upper 70’s to the mid 80’s. I have had years of luck with these temps and have noticed breeding behavior with in my smaller pair(6 foot male and 4-5 foot female). |
Heating and Equipment: | I use pond filters which stay to the outside of the enclosure with 2 300 watt aquarium heaters inside of it to heat the water as it is filtered. As far as lighting I found it is easy to use track lighting with 3 lights or more. The track lighting I use has UV bulbs alternated with 250 watt infrared heat bulbs. |
Caging Provided: | For fall through winter housing I use large kiddie pools in my basement with indoor outdoor carpet and ramps so they can move almost effortlessly in and out of the water to roam and bask. During the spring and summer they reside in my yard with 300 gallon ponds and a 40x40 enclosure. This lets them take full advantage of the natural sunn light. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Hatchlings all the way upto 4-5 foot should be given live fish the size of the fish should change with the size of the animal. Gut loaded crickets should be fed to hatchlings until a size of 18-20 inches is reached. The main part of the diet should be whole animals(mice, rats, cavies, rabbits,etc.) and poultry and red meats(chicken, turkey, beef, deer,etc.)This is a staple diet and if followed you will see great growth rates and healthy Gators. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | I swear by Miner-All made by sticky tongue farms. |
Maintenance: | The enclosure MUST remain clean and full of water. Algae is a very dangerous and sneaky killer. Algae will accumulate around the nostrils and dry while basking, this can close off the nostrils and cause the animal to suffocate slowly. Change the water immediately if you notice any algae build up. |
Some Words on this Species: | This animals are very rewarding if kept properly and you will be able to enjoy them for many years. Just keep in mind they are wild animals and will never be "TAME" in the time that you have them they will learn to act tame but will never be the esscense of the word."TAME" |
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