#33303

 Baby gator

i held a baby gator yesterday at parrot jungle(miami FL)...it was sooo cute...one day i think i’ll get one =^_^=...i just hope i can aford it when it gets big

 #33707

 Baby gator

Yea I no they realy are awesome.

 #34731

 Baby gator

Awesome guys, got two....if you wish to actually purchase one take several things into consideration, the size....what they eat... and make sure to get a look at it make sure no toes, claws, or the like are missing...tail in tact...if you want advice....start planning for one ahead of time....dont start them in a small terrarium...put them in a larger, and make sure you have the room do some research...as said they are fantastic to have around but they have a primal brain they could bite and will..they double back but all in all...Dont brag of the ownership to neighbors..some might try and report or get you in trouble *snickers*you know the whole busy body thing

 #39523

 Baby gator

ya I really want 1 too. Well, I’m only 15 so I’m waiting until I get my own house lol. Then I’m adapting my entire basement into gator haven!

 #39963

 Baby gator

Shorty I admire the fact that you have enough sense to wait!!!(applause) just keep researching before the time comes so you are ready. As far as the basement idea it is good but keep it well lit and don’t forget the full spec. It is very important to croc. species if they do not get the uva/uvb they will get a condition known as soft bone NOT MBD this causes the bones in the jaws to twist outward and the teeth are no longer lined up. I have dealt with hundereds of croc. and we get them in from time to time with this disorder.the bone will harden again but the animal will never look quite right. As far as the advice of CelticTigeress I don’t see anything wrong with the gimps I personally owned one that hatched with only 3 legs and he was the sweetest one I ever owned to date. So what is important when picking an alligator is: look for one whos eyes are not sunken in (this is a sign of dehidration) it should have good girth in the tail, you should not be able to see the hip bones and if it is just lying in your hand with its mouth shut not moving it is more than likely not very healthy. Missing limbs and digits are just that and should not have any barring in concidering a pet UNLESS it is to brag to the people around you otherwise what it looks like would be unimportant if it is healthy. If you are looking for a pet and a pet only don’t be afraid to take in the ones that others would just as soon step on.

 #40021

 Baby gator

cool! thanks! Do any manufacturers make like 3 foot (or bigger) flourescent lights?

 #40055

 Baby gator

If you are talking about fixtures you can get a hood from any pet shop for a 30 gallon or up. The hard ware store sell ballists and bulbs. If you are talking about bulbs you can get bulbs at pet shops and also at the hardware store I suggest the plant grow bulbs if you are using it on a herp tank.

 #40102

 Baby gator

No but like if I were to have a bunch of UVB lights in the ceiling in my basement just like any regular long light, do they sell them with UVB rays?

 #40108

 Baby gator

GATORS DON’T REQUIRE UV OR UVB, WHICH MAKES FOR AN EVEN BETTER PET.

 #40166

 Baby gator

JEFF, I am just curious as to how many Alligators you own/owned? Where you got your info on the lighting? I have been doing croc species for over 26 years and I can tell you from experience that the full spectrum lighting is nessasary to these animals. I have had caimen and phillipine crocs that came to me with twisted jaws and no teeth, But after a couple weeks under the full spectrum lighting the imperfections start to right themselves(never fully). I would agree with uv lighting and Monitors, and snakes, even most of the lizards available but with the croc species it is a must.

 #40215

 Baby gator

Hey Bayou maybe those crocs you got were Jeff’s ha. Sry jk

 #40230

 Baby gator

*snickers* I won’t comment..heh but *snickerfit* anywho I sugggest reading up on them...I grew up with Alligators and got into them thanks to my Dad as well as poisonous reptiles..... its a shaem that so many people fail to see the beauty of them...so many myths My Basement is being remodeled again for them (doing a huge gator pond) so for now my two are upstairs with a Kiddie pool for water and their lighting...they are swapped out....day lights and night lights for cycle of sun and moon....I wish people would recognize the brilliance and beauty within the beast

 #40263

 Baby gator

I know I hate it! I wanted to open up a shelter for ALL animals from homes that dont take acre of them as long as exotics from zoos or ANYWHERE! haha finally relizing that I am on 15 and dont have a cent to spend on it, and not that I didn’t have a cent to spend on that, I didn’t have a cent... PERIOD! haha well I try to do my partby adopting what I can from shelters and telling ppl how stupid they r by the way they are treating animals! okay Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is on now haha so I’m gunna go watch that!

 #40292

 Baby gator

I am not sure exactly what you mean but I have owned these since hatchling???

 #40303

 Baby gator

I would love to see pics of the enclosure(kiddie pool) that you are keeping them in. One question, would it not be easier to get timers and set the cycle if you feel the need to, instead of switching bulbs? I don’t know I would just like to see the pictures as I have 2 close friends that own and run registered reptile rescues and I just don’t understand what you are doing. It sounds to me like you have a nice little collection going (I seen the animals on your site they are Beautiful) but you claim to run rescue and also breed animals for pet shops in your area???? I don’t understand your mentality is not the point of a rescue and the outlook of a rescue to save the unwanted reptiles out there and the abused reptiles from bad owners? If so what the heck are you doing breeding more to give to pet shops that don’t properly care for the animals they have, and on top of that mislead or misinform the potential owners of the care needed to care for the animal. So you are helping put more animals out there to be neglected and abused and also helping make profit for the pet shop. How about instead of all the snickers stuff this time you try to sound intelligent. I am not trying to offend anyone just get some answers you seem to have a few people on here buying everything that is being said yet you are not backing anything up?

 #40330

 Baby gator

Just out of curiousity what all are you breeding? I seen on your site that the burms were breeded I was wondering how many eggs you got last season they look alittle small. I know it is possible but I just wondered how many eggs she threw and what your hatch rate was?

 #40331

 Baby gator

(I seen on your site that the burms were breeded) *breeders* brain working faster than hands.

 #40333

 Baby gator

CONFUSED!

 #40336

 Baby gator

Confused about what???

 #40355

 Baby gator

what ever the heck u just said haha

 #40358

 Baby gator

I wrote something and misspelled breeders and went back and corrected it. thats all. If that is not whatyou meant let me know and I will explain myself.

 #40507

 Baby gator

Well currently I take in unwanted and injured..... the Store I breed for they care for the ones I bring in..repitable and know what they are doing, it is to bring in more captive bred... But My Breeders are seperate from what I care for. I dont Breed the alligators..Period Ive had Prometheus since a hatchling if anything Pandora well no...Unfortunately the Kiddie pool is an alternative until I get their pond reinstalled for better growth which should be up HOPEFULLY in the next two weeks...You may not agree with what I do, but at Reptile shows and swaps I pride myself on having good quality animals with good dispositions as well as are healthy, the rest as said are contracted to Animal Krackers..fantastic people...Ive thought about the timers and have debated it several times However I just havent put one in for the lights...I usually go in during then ight and take extra time with the Guys. Its not a collection as I consider it..they are more like family...I might not have the many many years of experiance you have, but Ive learned my reptiles from respectable people in my life and take pride in what Im doing..Yes I breed my snakes Yes I breed the beardeds..but it beats having them taken from the wild...all of mine are captive Bred...the Savannahs I dont plan on Breeding...the only reason I took them in is the fact the large Male was bad off so Heres hoping with treatment and love he pulls through. I just recently managed to get settled into this lovely spacious House..and must say all of my Guys love it...well with the exception of Anubis..he thinks he owns the place.With My Burmese its been touchy with the Breeding solely for the fact that its learned through experiance rather then just books, and if I knew then what I knew now...The nest box is placed to where I can remove her from her clutch with little problem..the last take of Eggs I had was actually 14 HOWEVER I lost several the final outcome of them I managed to sucessfully hatch out 11. It was the first..I dont rapid Breed Id rather not stress my female out. The only guys that wont leave my home are Pandora..Prometheus... Yit Mafdet the beardeds and the Balls. just the offspring..well alright Anubis stays as well but Ive had him since he was a little Guy..Anything Ive learned through time that wasnt by Experiance was by people Ive worked for through time and time again.Its more of a timing basis of course the basement is being remodeled for better facilities...but I do work with several rescue Organizations that I take in and House care and Foster their rescues until they find fitting homes for them. and trust me Ive had some PATHETIC cases come in

 #40508

 Baby gator

Also, yes..you sounded VERY rude with "Try and sound intelligent" you know being Rude is not the way to get answers it has a tendency to push people off, rather then critisize me for what I am doing why dont you try and see things from anothers perspective...My Guys are well take can of...treated, loved handled...if sick they get the help they need....Its not like I actively abuse my reptiles..nor seek it out..so next time rather then insulting me with a comment about my intelligence step back thinking before you open your Mouth..and if I misunderstood then I appologize ahead of time

 #40605

 Baby gator

celtic chill. It doesn’t matter ok

 #40619

 Baby gator

I am sorry I came off like I did(sorry) I meant no disrespect it is just when you are in the business as long as I have been you deal with alot of people who try to sound good so others will listen and alot of animals have paid the ultimate price for this. When I started it was like your self breeding small and selling to the shops what you will find is that even the most reputable pet shop is open for profit and not the love of the animals. I had a shop for quite awhile and I was open for the animal you can tell that because I am closed down (I found that loving the animals is not enough to keep you open) I deal only in the highest quality CBB herps most of which I breed myself. But some I have gotten for pet shops( soryy evryone has a week point) mine being the porr underweight animals that I feel I can save but for the last 3 years I will not even step into a pet shop. I did not mean to sound like an a$$ but what you have is a "collection" just as mine is but I know what you mean and how you feel about the animals because I feel the same even the animals I sell I call constantly and e-mail to keep track of them and most of my customers know why and don’t mind. They are like my childeren(I have 5 kids(they don’t get jealous)) so I can appreciate were you are coming for it just seemed like in your posts some of the content looked copied from documents rather than posted from yourself so I got alittle (a$$) holeish. LOL again I am sorry if you took offense I didn’t mean for it to happen like that, just could not figure why you never answered any of the questions. Oh my big boy stays the winter in a stage 3 kiddie pool in my basement all winter(spring,summer,and fall outside)so there is not a problem with that. All of mine can get in and out as they please and have full run of their rooms til spring then get back into their outdoor enclosure. I just seen the tank on the floor in the pic and became inraged because I jumped to the conclusion that it was the Gators tank and it is to small. I would still love to see more pics of you criiters and post a pic of the kiddie pool and the basement enclosure when it is done. A friend of mine in IL says he knows you and I should back down alittle because I have a tendency to fly off the handle. SORRY.

 #40712

 Baby gator

very understandable and CUTE monitors!

 #40783

 Baby gator

You have friends?? Hahahaha Teasing..Hmmm do you have an ame of the Friend??? and No the tank in the background is actually just a Spare I keep usually for Rodents when it nears feeding time. I can understand where you are coming from and I too appologize for snapping but as of late I deal with a lot of Bull for what I House I dont mind answering questions but usally fingers go before brain...Im in a hurry and the like...so I dont think persay before I respond it happens to the best of us..Im in it for the love of my animals...they arent so much of a collection as they are a family but as soon as I have things where I want them and organized I will immediately post pics...its the biggest project Ive had and I look forward to it

 #40802

 Baby gator

That’s awesome can’t wait to c the pics!

 #40807

 Baby gator

Rubberroom Reptile rescue. located in PA is the one I deal with hand in hand. I take all of the croc species and monitor species that are droped with him. Brandon is the owner and operator of that rescue. As for the other I can not post any info on it because I run an online store and they do not want to be associated with the sales and or breeding end of the buisness. I get to hear it all the time from them about breeding but I do it because I love it and have been doing it for alot of years. I can’t wait to see the pics. As for the animals the pic below should tell you how I feel about my animals they and my childeren both like to climb on dad. But they are still collections.LOL People say that reptiles are ugly but I say look at me they are the prettiest thing in my house(excluding the wife and kids).

 #40837

 Baby gator

I WOULD LIKE ALL TO READ DR. ADAM BRITTONS IONFO ON THE CARE OF CROC’S AND GATOR’S IN CAPTIVITY. HE IS PROBABLY THE MOST EDUCATED EXPERT IN HIS FIELD AND WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS (NOT) A MUST TO UV LIGHTING FOR THEM. HE RECOMENDS THAT ONE USES UV ONLY BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD SOURCE OF VITIAMAN D GROWTH. I HAVE RAISE GATORS FOR OVER 20 YRS AND VERY SELDOM USE ANY UV EXCEPT FOR 2 YRS AND YOUNGER. PEACE

 #40883

 Baby gator

Beautiful Baby!!! Gorgeous as a Matter of fact!Actually I might be coming home with an Ornate Monitor Male....heres hoping anyway *laughs* but no I find reptiles to be beautiful in the own sense of the primal needs....untouched by time itsself aside from the occasional advancement for survival. All I have to say is they were here long before us..and they will be here long after us. I dont have any kids or Husband..but My necies and Nephews come over to help with the care... the Gators are usually calm enough so when I clean their pool they help carry the water and dump it..and when I feed they know to stay back and watch..they have learned to respect to not fast approach and the care it takes..so now my nephew wants to be like his Aunt..Good Kid eventually ill wind up getting him a small Cornsnake from a friend of mine or a calibar Python..easy care and maintenance. of course it will stay here..My sis is opposite of me...but its cute to see my Five Year old Nephew talk about the dos and donts of reptile handling.... hes learning quick.Family is family People see their cats and dogs as family...why not the reptiles..I mean hell there are times I go into the reptile room with everyone sit down with my music and a book.... I can honestly say that they know me and they are used to me...News update on Pandora..shes grown an Inch and a Half! she is now at three feet seven and a half inches nose to tail. I dont expect much more outta her but shes eating more which is always a good sign if you ask meInto the Abyss Again link to homepage...and the small tank is NOT for the Gators *Kinda gives a look to Bayou on that one*at least we figured out our misunderstanding...I only hope that my Guys get as big as yours..BTW you never answered whose the Friend you have in IL??

 #40966

 Baby gator

lol ok Jeff. I’d still use a YV light regardless.

 #41047

 Baby gator

Regards to the UV light...I could comment on several points but I am not one to instigate arguements nor shoot someone down for their right of Opinion.... I will say however Im not an old Lady and blind theres no need for all caps...that point proven....I will use the lighting for the sole purpose to make it as natural for my pair as possible...they are not in the wild but the point is to make them comfortable....They get their lighting their water their pool..even treatments if required. The point is what he might say might be different there are many experts that have many opinions...I would rather do what I have grown up doing and know that tis right rather then to misjudge myself that is where most make errors. My Father raised them, as did My Uncle...we used to ctach venemous reptiles for my Dads employer Bill. The point is the teachings I follow are those of people I know would not allow me to stray from proper handling simply stated and while your opinion is welcomed I will continue to use lighting and in cycles that falls as a natural basis for my reptiles Respectfully yours of course

 #41066

 Baby gator

ya thats cool good info

 #41095

 Baby gator

I read in a complete iguana guide how they should never be handled because they hate it??? Oh if it is in a book or on the net it is true. Were are you from and how do you keep them inside or out? Oh I love the private message telling me to read this post. But I recall asking how many you own NOW have you kept thaem alive and how big were they when they died/gotten rid of.

 #41174

 Baby gator

Oh yeah Iguanas hating to be handled..wait..lets see Anubis is damn near 6ft nose to tail and he WANTS to be handled...has been since he was a baby..and yet they hate it??maybe I need to have Anubis read up on how hes supposed to behave Huh?? *chuckles*A lot of people have misconceptiosn hence why dont always believe what you read if that were the case and you believe it..I have ocean front property in Arizona for really cheap pricing

 #41193

 Baby gator

well supposedly Tokay geckos dont liek to be handled and some luv it.

 #41195

 Baby gator

I see you got it I can’t wait to see his response. Every book or paper out there is going to contradict each other. The author of the book "Crocodilians in Captivity" this author owns a educational reptile park in Texas, He tryed to get my big guy shipped to him so I must be doing something right. If you have ever raised one from hatchling to 8.5 feet and 300+ pounds then I will take your advice into consideration otherwise I feel I am doing everything properly I have kept them without UVA/UVB unsucessfully and since using it all the time I have noticed better colors better growth rates etc. so if it is the lighting great if not it sure doesn’t hurt. "...and the small tank is NOT for the Gators *Kinda gives a look to Bayou on that one*" I deserve that .LOL Below is a pic of 2 of our Textbook IGs. They love being handled, Oh the book I forgot I am wrong they hate it.LMAO

 #41300

 Baby gator

THEY ARE GREAT LOOKING IGUANANS.

 #41541

 Baby gator

Oh wait here let me include a picture of Anubis!!!! wait hes not textbook he comes to be handled and climbs in the lap.....if anything he shares my bed at times...gotta have something there...I did manage a lovely callibar Python...not much is known on them but quite the unique lookers..shes an absolute sweety and as SOON as shes done shedding..... ill send pictures right now her pinks arent clear because of the scales but within the week Ill have them..But click my link in a previous post thats my Textbook Iguana..a lush for attention I agree with Bayou...to many contridictions and all based on anothers experiance...to put it lossely Cobalt Blue Tarantulas are to be highly agressive..My female NEVER bit me....she had moods but not once did I feel her sink her fangs into my hand...To put it simple the better care and love you give your pets.....the more likely they are to respond better..animals sense and you know what..I lay with My Gators..and I trust them more then most people..Beautiful Guys Bayou..BEAUTIFUL!!!

 #41567

 Baby gator

those are awesome iggies! I luv them but they get too big 4 me to house.

 #41677

 Baby gator

Well Jeff...they are great looking aren’t they?? Pity Iguanas dont like to be handled Im sure bayou there wishes he could hold and pet on his huh??? damn text book references...such a waste of lovely lizards Eh Bayou??Gorgeous Pair though I must admit..healthy beautiful guys...But when you CANT handle Them I suppose that they grow large like that *cough choke sputter*Anyhow enough of my smart arse commentd..Shorty darlin..and you want a Gator??Best bet is to stick with a baby Iguana and let them grow for now..they dont get overly huge persay and it takes tiem for them to grow..just remember dont hold them..keep them in a tank and feed them they wont like it otherwise

 #41683

 Baby gator

Ya but I’m only 15 so I’m still living with my mom and she hates all repts :( so she says that I hafta keep all my repts in my own room and there is no way that I can fit an iguana in my room haha. Actually, how big do they get and how fast? How big of a viv do I need for the 1st year. Then how big for the 2nd year. Then the 3rd and until they r full grown. I’ve always wanted 1 and have looked into them for about 2 minutes until I found out big they get lol.

 #41715

 Baby gator

This was my biggest to date he was 6 foot 6 inches when he passed at 14 years old. I wouldn’t know what to tell you as far as Juvie tanks I would suggest a 55 to start they need alot of room I have raised over 100 Igs but I always built enclosures that could house them their entire life.

 #42017

 Baby gator

That’s cool. Well my mom wont budge about n e diff species of repts so I’m getting more leos and breeding next yr.

 #43043

 Baby gator

You are getting leos and I am selling all of mine 3.15 hi-yellows, normals, carrot tails. All proven.