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 Member  Message

 #962661


Moneymaker
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 New baby alligator...need info

Alright i just purchased 2 baby alligators and was wondering is there any possible way to tame an alligator. Whats the temp that the pen should be? How can u find out the sex? How often should i find them?
08/29/06  04:31pm

 #962922


Nelson jacobson
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   Message To: Moneymaker   In reference to Message Id: 962661


 New baby alligator...need info

wow u sound like your prepared for an alligator.
08/29/06  07:25pm

 #963014


EPARR
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   Message To: Nelson jacobson   In reference to Message Id: 962922


 New baby alligator...need info

I hope this is a prank post! If not that is just disturbing.



08/29/06  08:11pm

 #964711


Curt1jenn
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   Message To: Moneymaker   In reference to Message Id: 962661


 New baby alligator...need info

Yes there is a way to tame them. You have to let them get to know you hold them and pet them everyday. As long as they know you will not hurt them thay will not hurt you. You only need to fed them every three days, stay away from blood animals as long as they never taste blood they will never want it. Fed them stuff like crickets, raw meat ect. Never fed them live animals. Not sure how to tell the sex yet. Alligators do need heat all they really need is something like a heat rock. You can also control how fast they grow. I have a 6 yr old alligator that is only two feet long. To slow growth feed no more then twice a week and don’t keep them too warm. As long as they get to knopw who you are and you are the one who feds them everytime they will not turn on you.



08/30/06  09:38pm

 #964875


Meee
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   Message To: Curt1jenn   In reference to Message Id: 964711


 New baby alligator...need info

Quote:

stay away from blood animals

all animals and bugs included have blood.

Quote:

Never fed them live animals

dead bugs as food?

Quote:

something like a heat rock

horrible

Quote:

I have a 6 yr old alligator that is only two feet long. To slow growth feed no more then twice a week and don’t keep them too warm

very cruel. i hope you never get another reptile. or children. if you want your kid to be short is it ok not to feed them?
08/30/06  11:26pm

 #965249


Curt1jenn
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   Message To: Meee   In reference to Message Id: 964875


 New baby alligator...need info

Yes I have two children. A gator is a reptile even in the wild they only eat 2-3 times a week like a snake they only eat once every two weeks. They are reptiles not humans. You don’t want to get a gator and have it 10 feet in 5 years if you feed it everyday it could mess up their digestive system and could cause serious damage or even death. Read up on reptiles them make your comment!
08/31/06  09:52am

 #965251


Curt1jenn
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   Message To: Meee   In reference to Message Id: 964875


 New baby alligator...need info

PS: Not all Bugs have blood. Crickets, Meal worms, ect.. Go to science class maybe you will learn something!
08/31/06  09:54am

 #965331


Krokadilyanguy3
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   Message To: Curt1jenn   In reference to Message Id: 965251


 New baby alligator...need info

Um.. Stunting your animal’s growth is stupid, irresponsible and very unhealthy for your animal. Can’t manage an alligator, don’t get one. And, heat rocks are well.. Stop helping until you obtain useful knowledge. Mind you, not an attack, but a simple gesture to aide yourself and others.

Also, I directly copied and pasted this from my site so if you find anything odd in the posts, I assure you I’m still updating the website.

Feeding:
you will want to include any animal product and every portion of that animal. Noted that a few species and younger animals prefer a high diet of aquatic life while others may prefer terrestrial species. Mice, rats, rabbits, chickens, amphibians, reptiles, fish, crayfish, crabs, deer, wild pig are all good general food items for a crocodilian. These items are best when served whole instead of feeding off specific portions of an animal; This will provide the essential nutrients that the item contains.

Young crocodilians should consume approximately twenty percent of it’s body weight daily and should be fed a diet of aquatic and invertebrate life along with small rodents and other young animals. When dealing with small crocodilians, it is not always an option to feed whole items, so when feeding portions of an animal is the case, try feeding different portions at every feeding interval. Adult crocodilians should be fed every three to four days, allowing the animal to feed until it is full.

Common dietary deficiencies are due to the lack of proper supplemental options and for the fact that most crocodilians are not provided with enough sufficient food items, supplement additives such as vitamin A and vitamin E are needed. Calcium should also be provided at two percent by the weight of the food.

Keep in mind that a hatchling’s digestive system is fragile and cannot handle everything you feed them. Overfeeding insects with hard, chitinous exoskeletons, such as crickets, can block the gut. Another item to watch out for is fish. Many species of fish contain large amounts of thiaminase within their bodies and should properly be fed with vitamin B 1 supplements. Another problem with feeding fish, is the possibility of vitamin E deficiency. Take care with feeding fish and at all possible avoid it as a large part of the diet.

Some animals do not take well to feeding in a new environment, however with a few optional possibilities, you may be able to entice the animal to eat.

Use live food items.
Try several types of food items, including pellets.
Place the food item on land near the water’s edge.
Place the food item in the water close to the animal’s head.
Place the food item on top of a small, raft-like item.

At first, the animal may seem wary but feeding it during the night while everything is quite and secluded the animal should take it’s meal; Do not worry if the offered item is not taken on the first few attempts, as long as the crocodilian does not show any apparent signs of illness and weight loss, you can allow the feeding to be postponed for several weeks.

Once your animal has become accustomed to your intervention during feeding, you may be able to use tongs or snake hooks for feeding. One should NEVER use their hands to feed an animal, even with relatively ’tamed’ due to unpredictable feed responses and remarkably fast strike distance. Crocodilians may also jump for their food which could cause misdirection of the animal’s strike.

When it comes to feeding, keep the items diverse and play it safe.

Handling/"tamming":
Young crocodilians will consider you as a would be predator. After time and several approach techniques, such as approaching at eye level, and handling your crocodilian may begin to settle to your presence. If you spend enough time with the animal, it will begin to lessen out it’s demeanor, assuming it was high strung to begin with, and may be less inclined to bite; You may even end up with a relatively calm crocodilian. Keep in mind, as with all animals, crocodilians will vary from individual resulting in several different outcomes of temperaments
To hold onto a crocodilian, place a firm but gentle grip over the shoulders and neck of the animal while holding the base of the tail with the other hand. You could also hold onto a small crocodilian by allowing the animal’s body to rest on your arm while having the tail pressed against your side with your elbow and holding onto it’s shoulders and neck. Keeping control of larger crocodilians is also true by holding onto both bases of the animal, which you may need assistance with. If the animal is not needed to be picked up, a firm grip on the base of the neck while sitting on it’s back is all that’s necessary. For rather large animals, several people may be needed to help pin the animal. These methods will help to restrain the animal without completely restricting it’s movements.

Sexing:
The animals are to young for you to attempt to figure out the sex. It’s possible, but seeing as you do not know how, I will not discuss it.

Heating:
Thermoregulation is a must for all herps, particularly crocodilians. All crocodilians prefer warm temperatures and will often go off feed if the water temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, this means that the keepers are to maintain the water temperatures at approximately 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for most species with the ambient air temperatures at least five degrees warmer (80-90°). I usually have basking at 95-100° for my indoor Alligators; anything higher and they tend to ignore it.

There are many suggestions for keeping the water in the enclosure warm and among these are the most commonly recognized submersible heaters. These heaters are often double sealed and are completely waterproof. These heaters also provide Fahrenheit and Centigrade scale readings with simple presetting temperatures. The draw back with this particular item is that the glass is brittle and electrical cords are nearly always visible, so steps are to made to completely eliminate the possibility of electrical outings, fires and the electrocution of the animal. A few optional steps may include enclosing the heater(s) and cords by wire mesh and/or bricks with holes drilled into them to allow proper water flow and temperature disposition.

To find out how large a heater you will need, subtract the average temperature of the room the aquarium is located in from the temperature you wish to maintain the animal’s water at.


Gallons 9ºF 18ºF 27ºF
5 25 watt 50 watt 75 watt
10 50 watt 75 watt 75 watt
20 50 watt 75 watt 150 watt
25 75 watt 100 watt 200 watt
40 100 watt 150 watt 300 watt
50 150 watt 200 watt 200 watt
65 200 watt 350 watt two 250 watt
75 250 watt 300 watt two 300 watt

In larger tanks, or where the room temperature is significantly below the desired water temperature, two heaters may be required; These heaters should be installed at opposite ends of the ’pond’ to evenly heat it.

The land area can be simply heated by overhead lamps and if the room is large and the air temperatures drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit a heater may be used as well. The lamps must be kept out of the animal’s jumping distance and should be clear of any debris or cage furniture. The wattage will vary from the height that the lamp is placed and from the existing room temperatures. Large enclosures may be heated with 250 watt infrared spot bulbs that kept at the appropriate height for or by industrial heaters to obtain the preferred temperatures. It is also best to provide ultraviolet bulbs such as ReptiSun 5.0 for your animal’s indoor life to help ensure clean health.



08/31/06  11:12am

 #965402


Curt1jenn
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   Message To: Krokadilyanguy3   In reference to Message Id: 965331


 New baby alligator...need info

I am not saying that artical is not true but it is talking about crocodilians not alligators. Heat rocks are good to maintain their heat that they need but no you should not leave it on at all times it will get too hot for them. Overhead heat lamps are better. You can give whole or live animals to a gator but mealworms, raw meat, and vitamins I think is better. If you look at it the way I was told and the way I look at it. If they are given whole animals and given live animals pretty soon they are going to look at you as prey. I know I don’t want that to happen. I am not tring to come off the wrong way here. But all I am tring to do is help the person who started this article by teling him what I was told to do with my gator. I am sure what I was told is true this person has been raising and tameing gators for over 30 years. But yes you can feed them live and whole animals if you really want to. GOOD LUCK!
08/31/06  12:12pm

 #965429


Razeraze
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   Message To: Curt1jenn   In reference to Message Id: 965402


 New baby alligator...need info

where have you been raising and taming alligators. i only know two behaviorists who train alligators and you are not one of them.

Quote:

I am not saying that artical is not true but it is talking about crocodilians not alligators

now who is the bright penny. you do realize alligators are in the same family as crocodilians right? you realize their growth/ mating/ and feeding habbits are practicly identicle. the differences are in appearence and ability to withstand cooler temps.

any predator will look at you as food no matter what. i would rather feed mine than starve mine. your chances of getting attacked are greater if you try to stunt the reptile. raw meat does not offer the bones and vitamins as whole prey. if you have ever been to a zoo you will see the carnivore diet consists not only of whole prey but raw meat supplemented with bone meal and vitamins.


please post a pic of your tame alligators.
08/31/06  12:45pm

 #965825


Geckogirlemi
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   Message To: Curt1jenn   In reference to Message Id: 965402


 New baby alligator...need info

I know of animals that have been burnt actually to the hot rock. Please don’t use one! Also, some keepers are not really open minded about care and are not up to date. There have been lots of new studies in reptiles over the last 30 years. So just because he has had gators for 30 years does not mean he knows anything about them. I would trust Krokadilyanguy3 if I where getting one.....



08/31/06  05:53pm

 #965861


EPARR
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   Message To: Geckogirlemi   In reference to Message Id: 965825


 New baby alligator...need info

Curt1jenn Did you type that right a 6year old alligator that is only 2ft. That is sad no wonder it’s tame it’s half dead. I wanna see pics

Alligators grow an average of 11 inches a year. A 6yo gator should be at least 5 ft. Your missing 3 and you really think that gator is happy Being feed the minimum and kept cool all the time so it won’t grow.

That,s more disturbing than this post.

I agree heat rocks burn reptile. I have seen that many times. Plus they don’t heat the reptile evenly. especially when it comes to snakes. Just not a good choice with all the other options on the market today.



08/31/06  06:14pm

 #965987


Meee
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   Message To: Curt1jenn   In reference to Message Id: 965251


 New baby alligator...need info

hrmmm, maybe the fact the i know what im talking about may have some weight in the fact that i laughed so hard after your posts curt1jenn, that i nearly died.

Quote:

gator is a reptile even in the wild they only eat 2-3 times a week

wrong. if given the chance they will eat whenever. it also depends on how the environment is set up and the food amount. if you keep it in way to cold of a tank and gave it little food it would probably only eat a few times a week since it was given no other option and not have the energy to attack you. the only reason it is "tame" is because it is too tired and too small to kill you for food.

Quote:

You don’t want to get a gator and have it 10 feet in 5 years

i want all my animals to live happy and healthy lives, something yours will never taste.

Quote:

Read up on reptiles them make your comment

why dont you? see, i know alligators are crocidilians. even my 4 year old neighbor knew that.

Quote:

PS: Not all Bugs have blood. Crickets, Meal worms, ect.. Go to science class maybe you will learn something!

they have an open circulatory system and there blood is made of different chemicals, but it is still blood. why dont you go back to 9th grade and retake bio?

Quote:

Heat rocks are good to maintain their heat

wrong. they are horrid. not only do they burn the reptile, the do not heat it evenly. you never answered my question. if you want your kid to be short is it ok not to feed them?
08/31/06  07:39pm

 #965999


EPARR
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   Message To: Meee   In reference to Message Id: 965987


 New baby alligator...need info

Quote: If you want your kid to be short is it ok not to feed them?

Meee Thats just wrong . LMAO



08/31/06  07:47pm

 #966209


Krokadilyanguy3
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   Message To: EPARR   In reference to Message Id: 965999


 New baby alligator...need info

Curt, In my earlier post I wrote I am speaking of all crocodilians, including Alligators.

Mealworms are only ideal for so long, raw meat is great, but I’m hoping you’re not suggesting Grocery store products, and vitamins are always great, but actual bone and tissue is a whole lot better.

Giving your animal food, dead, live or otherwise is suggesting you as a food item or a source of food. Either way, that’s a bad situation. There are ways of making your animal accostomed at feeding times without the insinuation of you as food. I often sit inside my pens without worry of an attack (With most of my animals), though I am always wary.

Personally, you get an animal for the animal. If you can’t handle it, why waste an animal’s life?
08/31/06  09:40pm

 #970924


GEORGE7590
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   Message To: Krokadilyanguy3   In reference to Message Id: 966209


 New baby alligator...need info

Alligators do not need to be fed live prey in order to view their keepers as food, nor does feeding them animal parts prevent them from viewing people as food.

Many of the alligator attacks here in Florida are attributed to people feeding the gators, and it’s often bread rather than live animals. Of course, a gator in the wild will eat live prey. But I think the alligator’s prey preference is due more to the size of the prey than whether it’s alive or dead. Two foot gators do not attack people. Twelve foot gators do, if only rarely, particularly if they have become accustomed to the presence of humans and lose their fear of us.

No one should ever believe a large predator like an alligator is "tame" or anything like that. A well fed gator is not going to be very interested in food. A hungry gator is going to want food. Gators can also be very territorial, so it pays to be careful with these guys, as is the case with any crocodilian.
09/04/06  02:15pm

 #971424


Slizard
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   Message To: GEORGE7590   In reference to Message Id: 970924


 New baby alligator...need info

Haha sorry, I dont know much about crocadilians other than what Ive seen on crocadile hunter (R.I.P Steve) and on various care sheets posted here and other places on the net, but I do own my own reptiles, I know that preety much everything Curt1jenn had to say is wrong, 10 feet in 5 years in my opinion is awsome, I dont think you can screw up a croc’s growth by properly feeding it.

The only negative thing that may result is perhaps your animal being over weight? In which I believe, is a good thing as long as its not THAT fat, ahha, and heat rocks are just terrible, Curt1jenn, I’m not sure if you know this, but reptiles arent too aware of the temp under neath them, I read somewhere that they can tell when its too hot by somthing in their HEAD, which is on top if Curt1jenn doesnt know and not on the bottom, this person probably doesnt even own a crocadilian,

Alligators are not part of the crocadilian family?! Well then I’m sorry, but what do you think is? Just crocadiles? why would it be called a FAMILY if it only hosts one spiecies of reptile? And if you havent noticed, crocs and gators look preeety similar if you have eyes, or did you think gators had another family? Might I be so bold as to suggest, alligatorians?



09/04/06  07:32pm

 #1004608


H311sFury666
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   Message To: Moneymaker   In reference to Message Id: 962661


 New baby alligator...need info

Well my parents won’t let me let mine grow so mine has a stunted growth. I feed it every other day - every day depending on what his current diet is. I dont want him to become obese or something. I stunt his growth with just temperature. My last one never grew in the 6 years we had him till I gave him to my firned Jarod. (I felt 6 years was way too long and my parents disagreed) Hes now like 5 feet in just two years (was about a foot) and I have a new one so my parents dont realize I gave Dirk away. Dirk 1st was nice but he was really used to me. I had him in my room next to my bed for all those years and he was handled frequently. My new one is getting there but is still prety teritorial while in his cage. For temps I kepp the cage at room temp with a heat light and basking light on it. I leave the water be but the red light is over it so it is slightly warmed but not like 80 or anything. Hope some of this (if anything) helps.



10/01/06  09:37am

 #1004951


Razeraze
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   Message To: H311sFury666   In reference to Message Id: 1004608


 New baby alligator...need info

if you can not care for one properly please give it to someone who can.
10/01/06  02:32pm

 #1005880


Moneymaker
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   Message To: Razeraze   In reference to Message Id: 1004951


 New baby alligator...need info

seriously why do u post on the message if u dont want to give advice?
10/02/06  01:24am

 #1012324


EPARR
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   Message To: Moneymaker   In reference to Message Id: 1005880


 New baby alligator...need info

Moneymaker I can answer your question. It’s like this we spend alot of time researching our reptiles and caring for them properly. Then you get people who come around and say they got a 6 year old gator that is only 2ft or hasn’t grown at all. Do you know how much you have to starve a gator and neglect it. For it not to grow in 5 or 6 years. An alligator grows an average of 11 inches a year that gator should be 4ft at least. Do you think it’s right??? I run a reptile rescue I get every ones mistakes,sick,neglected, and flat out mistreated reptiles. If they were dogs or cats they would be heavily fined and possible face jail time. But since there reptiles no one cares.

Well I do care and I take it to heart when someone gets a reptile without doing the research first. I also take it to heart when I here someone ask how to stunt an animals growth. If you can’t handle it the way it should be find another reptile or pet. Not make one suit your needs.

I apologize for jumping your case in the other post it was my mistake. I hope you can forgive me for that but this is just plan out ignorance.



10/06/06  10:10pm

 #1020838


Bigolgator
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   Message To: Curt1jenn   In reference to Message Id: 964711


 New baby alligator...need info

Wow, is all I have to say about your advice(curtljenn) I am a bit late to these messages, but I just joined the site today. I am by no means an expert but have 7+ yrs hands on experience with A. Alligators and Spec & Dwarf Caimans. I agree with your insect diet, but only for the first 6 months of life NOT 6yrs. The crickets ectoskeleton can be to much to digest and not a great overall source of anything. Maybe if they are gut loaded. But insects are only good for 6months-1yr because that copies the gators diet in the wild. Then they move up to bigger prey (baby turtles/frogs) catching fish is easier. I also agree with not feeding live prey. So they do not associate movement with attacking and killing and eating. But they do need whole prey items...without a doubt. You have all your calcium from bones, vitamins from organs and proteins from muscle. Now supplements are good but only if you are feeding raw meats, because in every meal in the wild they get all around nutrition and thats what you should be aiming for. I dont believe in power feeding, but in the wild when they kill a large prey item they will gorge themselves, so I do believe in feeding them alot on occassion. Maybe you should have used Mazuri pellets if you are against whole prey. But they are only a supplement and shouldnt be used 100%. I know this information wont help your gator but hopefully others reading wont take your advice.
10/13/06  01:13pm

 #1021279


EPARR
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   Message To: Bigolgator   In reference to Message Id: 1020838


 New baby alligator...need info

Well said Bigolgator
10/13/06  08:19pm

 #1022366


Bigolgator
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   Message To: EPARR   In reference to Message Id: 1021279


 New baby alligator...need info

Thanks EPARR, I wish these people knew the damage they are doing. A reptile can live so long with MBD and be in so much pain the whole time. Only having a heat rock(which need to be pulled off the market, try putting slate under a heat lamp, then they are getting warmth under and above) is horrible. i could go on and on, but I am afraid the only people who will get it is those who already know better. If someone has it in their minds that stunting an animals growth is OK, you cant tell them anything. Its obvious they have not researched anything.

To the boy who lives at home with his parents, find a good home for your gator and get another one when you move out. but only if you are going to house/feed/heat correctly.

BigOlGator
10/14/06  06:31pm

 #1022393


EPARR
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   Message To: Bigolgator   In reference to Message Id: 1022366


 New baby alligator...need info

Yeah it’s really a shame. The worst part is like you said they think it’s OK and will not take advice. I will argue with someone if I think I’m right. If I find I’m wrong I will change my ways. Not these guys they know all. Too bad suck for the reptile but what Can you do.

I run a reptile rescue for this reason. Check it out.

EPARR
10/14/06  06:52pm

 #1022525


Bigolgator
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   Message To: EPARR   In reference to Message Id: 1022393


 New baby alligator...need info

Thats a nice site, do many gators come your way?



10/14/06  09:32pm

 #1022532


Razeraze
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   Message To: EPARR   In reference to Message Id: 1022393


 New baby alligator...need info

the iguana needs to be glassed in. last i checked PA does not have humidity at a constant 60-70%


how do you guys move your big guys if you need to? my salvator is a handful i could not imagine vet visits or new enclosures for a 10-12 foot gator or croc.
10/14/06  09:45pm

 #1022613


Meee
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   Message To: Razeraze   In reference to Message Id: 1022532


 New baby alligator...need info

eparr, now your name makes sense i agree, the ig should be in a solid enclosure, but both look pretty healthy. check on the ig forum, there is this guy who adopted one 3 years ago that had all its claws pulled out along with its spines, and was also drugged to be more docile so it could play with a 3 year old. drugged. after 3 years of trying to rehabilitate it, he can not and is looking for a new home for it.
10/14/06  11:33pm

 #1022940


EPARR
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   Message To: Meee   In reference to Message Id: 1022613


 New baby alligator...need info

I keep the humidity in my room about 50% and I mist him 2-3 times a day. I have always used wire cages for large lizards they love it they can climb all over the place. It would be hard to keep the humidity up if it weren’t for keeping the room humid in the first place.

BigOlGator I haven’t got any gators as of yet but they are coming. One of our local pet shops sells them like anoles.

As far as the vet goes. When the gators are big the vets come to you. You also have to keep in mind that gators are not near as agile as monitors.



10/15/06  11:40am

 #1022944


EPARR
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   Message To: EPARR   In reference to Message Id: 1022940


 New baby alligator...need info







Gallery



10/15/06  11:45am
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