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DJFELONY   Reptileplus   Metalix_421   Squirmz   Crocodylus  
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 #1865549


DJFELONY
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 Help with American alligator

i have a 18 inch American alligator.. he is completely handleable and tamed..

this is my setup..

90-gallon reef tank with about 30 gallons of swimming water
Pro Clear Model 175 Wet Dry filter systems up to 175 Gallons
Taam/Rio 2500 Pump/Powerhead
inferred 150watt heat bulb for his land spot
300watt submersible water heater with temp adjust
air pump with bubbler rod

gauge reading after 2 days of steady flowing
water temp reading 82
4 inches above on top of his dock reading 103 (basking area)
humidity 75
full tank reading 85
room that the tank is in temp of 65-70 my bedroom

that is the way it all is as of me typing this message.. now i only have had him for about 3 days first day was in bathtub with space heater in room while setting up the tank next 2 days was in the tank..

now the ?’s is

i put 5 goldfish in his tank witch he eat 1 then eat 2 more over night.. but i would like to now if there are good fish for him i can put in there instead of gold fish?? heard they where bad for him today..

after first night his water seems fogy.. is this normal??

he seems to Chase the fish but turns as he attacks and Miss’s completely like he is going after there reflection on the bottom of the tank.. also he keeps opening his mouth trying to bite the Glass or background.. is this all normal for him to do??

the heater in his tank he lays his hands and body on it sometimes for about a hour and he bites it and lets go..knocked it off the the holder once.. he hasn’t tried to bite the wire yet but i need to do something before he does..

can i put some of type of rocks or something on the bottom that he wont try to swallow to keep him from seeing reflections and biting at the glass.. he cant hurt the glass but it makes him look weird going after a shadow..

any other things i need.. I’m getting plants and moss for him also..

thanks for the help in advance
09/22/08  12:40am

 #1866603


Reptileplus
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   Message To: DJFELONY   In reference to Message Id: 1865549


 Help with American alligator

gators will eat anything, they will kill any extra fish in the tank, this is there home and they will protect it, so if they eat 1 fish they might kill all the others and leave them until latter, so just feed them a few at a time, you can try minnows, any fish is good, if you feed other things like chicken beef ect put him in the bath tub as this will mess up the water, keep a out side heater as they will brake anything in there tanks,



09/23/08  02:44pm

 #1877272


Metalix_421
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   Message To: DJFELONY   In reference to Message Id: 1865549


 Help with American alligator

well i wouldnt think that you have anything to worry about. my gator is about 3 months old and he does prettymuch the same thing. i do have my water temp at 78 degrees. I think that my gator gets bored and thats why he chases fish.
10/08/08  06:58pm

 #1884403


Squirmz
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   Message To: Metalix_421   In reference to Message Id: 1877272


 Help with American alligator

sounds like things are fine my babii loves his fish but its good to switch up from foods like fro m fish to pinkys/ fuzzies and crickets.... also i give my boy tetras and barbs as a treat once in a while cuz they also can have those kinds of fish.... my boyfriend wants to feed him a bird but i don’t like tht idea plus hes only a little over a foot . i know and heard tht alot of ppl think tht they can be mean and scary but my lil guy knows his name and when i say i got dinner for you he looks at me opens his mouth and lets me drop food in he loves it!!!i look at him as a dog sometimes as weird as my bf thinks i am i love the lil guy:D:D but good luck and what your doing is great:D make sure you do research!!!
10/20/08  07:30pm

 #1887917


Crocodylus
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   Message To: Squirmz   In reference to Message Id: 1884403


 Help with American alligator

you dont want to feed just fish, this will lead to vitamin deficiencies and cause alot of problems. Mix the diet up alot, feed fish, gut-loaded crickets, and pinky mice, if you can get him to eat Mazuri Croc Chow that will save you some money and is very complete nutrition wise.
10/26/08  10:53am


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