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 #1569056


Sidbarvin
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 Just Curious

I’ve looked throught the threads on this forum and began to wonder about some things. Forgive me if I am misinformed, but don’t crocs and gators get really huge? With all these posts about people having baby gators one would think that there would be a good many posting who own adult, fully grown animals as well. Maybe I missed something, but The biggest one I saw other than zoo pics was like three feet. I’d like to see some pics of fully grown pet gators and crocs. Also I would like to hear some thoughts on what the minimum enclosure size would be, and see some pictures of some as they must be quite impressive. I mean personally, when I think about bringing a living thing into my care, I consider all the factors that play into giving the critter a long healthy life.

I can’t help but think that the reason there are no posts about adult pet crocs/gators, that either the growth is being stunted or they are simply passed off or die when the owners can no longer provide the huge amount of support these animals must need.
01/05/08  04:15am

 #1569402


DRZRider
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1569056


 Just Curious

You answered your own question. I while back I got a 40inch spectacled caiman from some kids that kept it in a 125 gallon aquarium. I looked around and found a few people that seemed to be able to care for it. These guys did have full grown caiman or gators. I ended up donating the caiman to an alligator zoo in South Carolina. I was glad to get the caiman away from the kids and find it a good home even though it cost me a bunch of money. I wish I was able to keep it, but monitors are so much easier.



Ed
01/05/08  01:50pm

 #1569631


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: DRZRider   In reference to Message Id: 1569402


 Just Curious

Yea, Ed, didn’t you get the caimen because you needed the cage or something. Mighty expensive cage by the time it was all said and done huh. I have to say, Ed, that I have a great deal of respect for what you did for the animal.

I thought the business of people getting large monitors for nothing more than the sake of the shock factor was bad. I know that few have what it takes to support large monitors between the cost and the amount of work involved. Crocs and gators??? Wow insane!!!!!! It’s a real reflection of the lack of respect and consideration so many have for other living things and the natural world in general.

Please, someone prove me wrong. Post some pics of full grown animals in quality set ups in private homes.



01/05/08  05:32pm

 #1569651


DRZRider
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1569631


 Just Curious

Quote:

Yea, Ed, didn’t you get the caimen because you needed the cage or something.

Yup, I got a 125 gallon aquarium with it.

I am looking forward to seeing pictures, too.

Ed
01/05/08  05:41pm

 #1572719


Crocodylus
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   Message To: DRZRider   In reference to Message Id: 1569651


 Just Curious

As of now my Alligator is still a juvenile, but your right it has already been a huge cost as we had to buy more land to be able to start building his 30’x30’ greenhouse enclosure.
A few people I know of who have or atleast had privately kept adults are Chris Dieter who keeps Nile Crocs, and on this forum Bayou Beasts and Celtic Tigress atleast used to own adults. oh yeah and bigolgator has one thats like 6-8 ft. not many I know, but they are out there.

Anyways the fact is that over 90% of the people who buy a crocodile or Alligator either dont know or dont care that they get huge. So, most are given away euthanized when they reach about 3ft. Its these types of owners that you are encountering most of the time and the ones that give responsible owners a bad rep.
There was a post similar to this a few months ago I may bump it if I can find it.



01/07/08  04:21pm

 #1573109


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: Crocodylus   In reference to Message Id: 1572719


 Just Curious

Crocodylus, I thought the kids and irresponsible adults buying large monitors was bad, but gators? And we wonder why restrictive legislation is passed concerning large reptiles. In fact I recall just in the past few months, a good sized gator and a large burmese python both being pulled from a local river here in Pennsylvania. Thanks for posting. It’s good to hear a few, at least have placed the best interests of the animals at heart.



01/08/08  12:12am

 #1574982


Fletcher
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1573109


 Just Curious

Hey sibdarvin iv seen most of your posts on the monitor forums, awesome Niles.
Anyways I personally think that there should be a special permit before acquiring such awesome animals it disgusts me to know that kids under 18 years old can have their parents buy reptiles capable of reaching 4+ feet and then when they get to big or the stupid kid goes away to start a life of their own the poor animal gets left behind to be euthanized or worse.
It really kills me... :’(



01/09/08  09:21pm

 #1575694


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: Fletcher   In reference to Message Id: 1574982


 Just Curious

If I am ever able to hatch any nile eggs, I will be very choosy about who I sell them to. If I am not satisfied with beyond a doubt that prospective buyers are home owners, and have quality experience with monitors, I will not let them go. I’ll feed off the hatchlings to my salvator before subjecting them to an environment where they will be nothing more than trophys living miserable lives and succumbing to early deaths from poor husbandry.
01/10/08  04:33pm

 #1576200


Fletcher
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1575694


 Just Curious

It would be great if you hatched some niles!!!
I hope i can hatch some lace eggs someday soon,
I know the feeling of not wanting to give your pride and joy to irresponsible jerks.
I’m getting back on the monitor forum though this forum is kinda dead
01/11/08  04:59pm

 #1581334


Rat snake lover
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   Message To: Fletcher   In reference to Message Id: 1576200


 Just Curious

my dad has a 20000 gallon tank with plenty of fish and water for the gator he is 3 feet with plenty of food i love him very much il he has a tone o fflish in his exibit he will never go hungry i also feed hin bats its fun to watch them be snached out of the air i might get a female and breed them



01/16/08  06:57pm

 #1581336


CelticTigeress
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   Message To: Fletcher   In reference to Message Id: 1576200


 Just Curious

Croc, Thanks for the honorable mention...

Tony (Bayou) as well as Bam have some lovely specimens. Bam has quite a few both young and adults alike as does Tony... Mine are growing, Promethus I have had for years, I got him as a hatching he is now at 6ft, Pandora is 5 1/2 foot. I have Ogre (Named after a friend) who came to me as an adult needing care, given that I live on Base right now things are limited. My eldest Brother until I get settled is caring for my guys. he has a habitat set up outside. It isnt that I cant care for them, but trying to move them as large as they are would be stressful on them all and I dont want to risk it. I kept them in SC in a own custom home until I knew I was ready to move. (this is after keeping them as hatchlings) as a responsible owner I secured a place for them...When settled I will have them returned until then in capable hands. I never expected to marry into a Military family when I first purchased and then adopted. But I know what is best for them, I also assured they had the right amount of food to weight ratio as my brother does now...thank God for uncles that raise Goats eh? not everyone just dumps them off...there are a few of us that do take pride in our husbandry...and a fw that dont just pawn them when they are too large.
01/16/08  06:59pm

 #1581480


Rat snake lover
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   Message To: CelticTigeress   In reference to Message Id: 1581336


 Just Curious

i decided what im going to do on friday im going to go and rent a female from a friend for a couple months to have her give birth and hire someone to take the female out and incubate the babies in an incubator til they hatch then sell some to the my friend becouse he has a huge man made river in his backyard full of gators ill sell all but 2 to him and raise the other two to breed and make money but sell them to caring oners i hope this works
01/16/08  08:14pm

 #1584791


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: CelticTigeress   In reference to Message Id: 1581336


 Just Curious

Celtic Tigress, What would you say the "minimum" requirements as far as space and water volume would be to sustain a healthy adult gator? I’m guessing it would be beyond the means of most, let alone the average teenager who walks into a pet shop with a hundred bucks.

Also, under ideal captive conditions, how long would you say it takes these animals to reach adult size?
01/18/08  11:34pm

 #1585255


CelticTigeress
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1584791


 Just Curious

The Enclosure that I had privy to make was simple, it was 1/2 Acre of land enclosed, fence built around was Chainlink but nstled 2 feet in the ground and filled with Cement, Weather treated Boards edged the Inside and outside to prevent difficulties with support posts every 2 feet. for a water enclosure it was 50 feet around (About the size of a large above ground) (I had limited space) My Da helped me set it up, hes a prior keeper. I would say Minimum ground space would be a 50x50 for a solitary adult Gator, it needs room to house around and have enough space in water to fully submerge and swim. Its why I hold off now, the Husband is getting me property so I can bring my three back...honestly..for the building materials and set up it was expensive but I wanted to do it RIGHT. it was a combination of concrete, fncing material that threw me over.. now BAM has an awesome setup, he has the land for it, and they all live good... as far as size....

Prometheus is 6 1/2 feet, I have had him as a hatchling had him for 8 years.... he has had propr nutrition and care. Pandora is 2 years older then prometheus, but was neglcted and growth stunted, she should be bigger then she is now.. And Ogre thy guess him to be 15-20 years of age... not for certain is wildcaught.... I would say a healthy captive can rang in growth 1/2ft-1ft a year or so, but my calculations could be off....I noticed as Pomethus got older his growing slowed...

as for a teenager walking in, thats with any inexperianced... people think a tank is going to hold them and its really a waste of money and sad time for the animal. I invest everything I have into all of my animals, and they keep me close to the ’poor house’ once settled in our home I plan to build another enclosure, maybe even a few more gators, but as for feeding adults... it can get costly, so I depend on hunting...and an uncle that raises goats.. aquiring my guys wasnt so bad, my blue card marking me tribe... excludes me from ost US/state laws... so I dont have to seek a permit persay.. it helps...

I like to think I give all my care to my guys and its ideal, they have variety, my brother takes good care, I know it isnt like the wild, but they never hunger...
01/19/08  12:22pm

 #1586046


Krokadilyanguy3
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   Message To: CelticTigeress   In reference to Message Id: 1585255


 Just Curious

All of my gators grew pretty close to a 1’ a year for the first couple of years, your calcs are pretty much on the dot.
01/19/08  08:59pm


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