#27574

 Care, Housing Etc

I am debating about purchasing an alligator. There is an ENORMOUS reptile center near me. (it’s actually more like a world lol) and the baby alligators cost about 90$. I held one and talked with an employee for a bit. However I was wondering if anybody would share the following with me. Housing/Tank that would last me for a least a year and 1/2 (according to the growth of the gator) Food: goldfish, guppies, baby mice, rats, raw chicken? what is best? Major Health problems Monthly cost: based on food etc. Type of filter needed, if one is needed at all And really just anything that you find necessary. i figure that all of you (the people who actually own them and care for them ) would know best and be able to give me unbiased and truthful facts. Thanks!

 #28040

 Care, Housing Etc

If it’s your first reptile, try something a little smaller. A pet that’s 6 feet 10 years later will be quite a handfull. You’re food should be all of the above and more (Crabs, crayfish, large bugs, worms, pritty much anything healthy). If you want a "pet pet" you’ll need to spend alot of time with this animal when its small and all through it’s life. In about a year and a half it’ll probebly be around 2 - 2.5 feet so you’ll need a tank about the size of a bathtub (but not a bath tub it can cause growth problems). Here’s a better indication of size.. Or you can go here for more photos and info.

 #31108

 Some Help

For many years I have owned many alligators and camines. Unfornatily I purchased an alligator for the wrong reasons. Now that I have had him for years he has become part of the family. A lot of people ask about size of aquarium, food, cost, etc. It is my opion that plan for how you live, what is avaliable to you easly. First, an alligator as a pet will grow about 1 foot per year in normal enviromental conditions. Temp. between 70-85 degress F. Second, the growth will be effected by the size of the encloser. If the gator can grow be, he will. Third, the amount of food he eats. This is also effected by the temp of his encloser. Being cold blooded the gator won’t eat as much if he is cooler than normal. But, for no reason keep him cooler than a simulated enviroment would be. (Souther U.S. dosn’t stay in the 50’s and 60’s during winter seasons. If you have decided on an alligator rather than a caimen then you have made the right choice if the factor was temper. An alligtor has a mild temper compaired to a camine. Just like a snake an alligator if handled will tame even more. Now the encloser should have water and land. This is a must! Once the gator has reached temp on land from basking in the heat of a heat lamp then he will want to cool off in his water. Also the water will be were he releaves himself, and were he will usuly eat food. The ideal enviroment would have fish in the water then feed on the land. Now what to feed him, my alligator decided what he wants to eat and dosn’t. A quick trip to WalMart suppies his diet. Eatherworms are his favorite, chicken guizzard/parts are his second, hotdogs would be his last. On ocation he eats hamburger meet. But remember what he eats will be left in the encloser for you to clean up. A good filter is only as good as the person cleaning the filter. You will find yourself cleaning the filler more than you will enjoy the pet. Breaking the rumors...Most people are scared of the unknown, ie alligators. They havn’t no knowledge of them except what they see on tv. Alligators are more affraid of us than we are of them. They want to protect themselves like we protect ourselves when someone is aggresive to us. They see all human contact as aggressive to them. Most of the time they strike then turn and run. (This may not apply to all gators!) But alligators have a quiet couriosity. There watching who you are and what you do. Mine dosn’t strike and communicates with me after he is feed. Sounds unbaliveable but its true. After a good meal he grunts(cherps) in the water almost as if he is saying thankyou. Also about the food remember this, sometimes the gator go’s on "killing sprees". If you get dozens of feeder fish then put them in the tank he might just try killing(eating) them all at once. Unfortinatly the fish die from being wounded or from shock. Its money quickly flushed down the drain. Give the fish pleanty of places to hide. Going back to bad habbits the heater in the water may be upsetting to the gator. He will try to lie on it, snuggle, or whatever he can to get warmer. This is a problem since most are suction cupped to the wall. My gator perfers to bite at the heater if its in his way or a foot feels that it is traped around the cord. Underwater heaters are expensive to replace, Keep this in mind. One more though on the food. I have an address and number to a supplier that sells dry gator food. Its like cat food. It supplies the gator will all the important vitamines and minerals they need. So just write if you need it. I hope this info helps....

 #34732

 Care, Housing Etc

My Guys I have two are a female and Male...absolutely spectacular the mroe you handle them the calmer they get..My caimans were snappy and a royal pain...for gators take into size do research first on typical size...females usually get to about 6-7 feet a foot a year... Bulls reach about 12...thats natural habitat..... they arent in that so size might not get as large...Feeding....mix it..variety is welcome.. My Guys get a selection of feeder fish that stay in their "pond" a live gerbil or large rat, raw chicken...as well as beef..the bloodier the better...if you start with a small baby try chicken gizzards as well a pack is a buck and will last several feedings...put them in a ziploc if they start to go rank..no matter Gators in the wild let their food Rot so its soft...typically when you purchase they are about 10 inches long oversea make sure there are no health issues. babies will bite they latch down...but they grow accoustomed... if need be do some research on them first....for something that will last you a year...I cant answer until I know if you have a House or apartment when I worked on the terrarium for my guys...they had a room set up...a Pool with filter (kiddie pool) was in the middle rocks and the like....the room to roam for space until I built their home...typically people try and place them in a 10 gallon aquarium..its a WASTE of money....baby gators usually like crustaticans..ie crawdaddys and the like...dotn keep them on the same thing they need their balance and variety they get it in the wild why not in captivity? if need be..start off with something like a Ball python at first? mild natured dont grow too terribly big... for lizards an Iguana? once you grow accoustomed to the handling and the regular care then switch over...Lighting is important..NO heat rocks they malfunction portions get to hot they burn the bellies..a floodlight for the day is what I have with my guys and at night they have a light set up you can do a black light..my guys have the red ones the term slips my tongue..it keeps them in a balanced cycle they stay warm and they can bask..something important with reptile digestion....if you get a nip dont be disheartened in time it settles.

 #38632

 Care, Housing Etc

that was awesome info guys! I really want a gator. I’m not getting one until I live in my own house because I’m only 15 haha. Can they live in my yard with an un chlorinated pool all year round if I live in FL?

 #39676

 Care, Housing Etc

i just wondering if their are any other types of alligators that actually stay small throughout their lives, and if their is where i could i find one

 #39713

 Care, Housing Etc

ya lizards lol. But other than that I dont think there are any smaller gators other than dwarf caimen which have some attitude!

 #40221

 Care, Housing Etc

Theres the American Alligator..usually Caimans dont get as big but they are mroe vicious while the Amer Gators are laid back and calm....as long as you handle them and let them adapt to you

 #40266

 Care, Housing Etc

haha ya. I’d get a caimen if they were nicer and I had more space!