Full Grown Pet Alligators?

Okay, so I'm sitting down watching countless reptile videos on this here 'interweb' and I have found a considerably large number of people with their 'pet' alligator videos. Well after some 20 odd pages of browsing, it occurred to me that all of the videos and pictures I have seen are all babies. But wait a minute, if General Biology 101 has taught me a few things it is that these babies have to grow up to become adults.

Babies --> Adult.

So can someone explain to me why there are no pet adult american alligator videos online? At first I thought "well, it must be a caiman" but those grow up to atleast 4 feet in length yet these little suckers that many people seem to own are only about 12-14 inches. Now according to what I've read, these bad boys reach between 10-13 feet somewhat commonly.

Are Alligators camera shy as adults?

If not where are all of these large pet alligators?

Sorry for the rant but you know, I really don't understand the cuteness of baby animals. I mean, i think they are cute but once they grow up to be mature full grown, man that sure is AMAZING!

Like my Boxer puppy. He was cute as a little 8 week old puppy but he has turned into a 60 lb handsome devil at 8 months and to be honest, I like him better big. Can't wait till my BCI is full grown

A couple of years ago, someone here in Southern Cali, had one as a pet, and when id did get to "adult" size, it was to much for them and they let him go in the LA River. He lived there for years, with people seeing him once in a while. He was caught and given to the zoo, but point is, people like them as babies, but when they get to big, they either let them go, or get rid of them. Its a sad truth about an amazing animal.

I think that Pat hit it right on the money. It's the same thing with iguana's or some of the larger species of snakes. People buy them for the 'cuteness' or 'coolness' factor and rush into keeping the animal without researching them. So now they have a growing Iguana that has IBD because the owner "didn't know" that Iguana's need additional suppliments to their diet, or you see a 15' retic or burm in a 40L glass tank because they don't have the space or financial supplies to properly care for them. But like all animals, there are some people who do take the time to research what they are getting into, and take excellent care of their animals. I know a man that owns a few 'gators, and has awesome indoor and outdoor pond enclosures for them. I think that a lot of this comes from just plain ignorance on the owners part, and once again, the animals have to suffer from it. :(

Actually I know quite a number of people with adult alligators as pets. They've just matured as keepers and have grown beyond the 'lets show them off on YouTube' stage.

Kevin of NERD has a pet Alligator ("Wally" after the HB cartoon character), who's reputed to be a sweet heart. I haven't met him yet--but someday :D

But again, he's an experienced keeper with his life dedicated to keeping and breeding reptiles--he has the space, resources and experience to care for a full-grown gator.

Here's a picture of Wally!

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...007/wally2.jpg

That's one of Robin's pics taken during our visit with Kara last year. I wouldn't exactly say he's a cuddly guy...but we actually went INTO the pen with him while he was being fed a special snack. :D VERY cool 'gator and I'll treasure those memories forever!!

^ that's a cool looking gator :)

Always one of my favorite stops at the zoo.

I'm probably going to make myself sound like an idiot here, but aren't people required to have a permit to keep those? And even then, isn't one of the requirements of having the permit that once they get too big that they must go to a gator rescue or something like that? I don't know too much about it, but the way it sounds in this thread is that people can just go out and buy a baby gator and raise it up for fun. Maybe I got the wrong impression.

Either way, I can't see why anyone would *want* a pet alligator...

Nothing against Wally or any other happy healthy gators and their keepers, btw. :gj:

^ I saw baby gators at the flea market for $75 once. The guy definitely didn't require a permit, either.

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

I'm probably going to make myself sound like an idiot here, but aren't people required to have a permit to keep those? And even then, isn't one of the requirements of having the permit that once they get too big that they must go to a gator rescue or something like that? I don't know too much about it, but the way it sounds in this thread is that people can just go out and buy a baby gator and raise it up for fun. Maybe I got the wrong impression.

Either way, I can't see why anyone would *want* a pet alligator...

Nothing against Wally or any other happy healthy gators and their keepers, btw. :gj:

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I dunno about other states but I know here in Washington you can own them up to 6ft without a license or permit. Then its like $100 renewal fee after that. Washington is also very leniant with reptiles because of the long cold season they really dont have to worry bout people leting them go and taking over since they usually die during the winter. Baby alligators are for sale everywhere up here. Pretty sad. Im only craigslist quite a bit too and theres usually quite a bit of them up for sale. Usually about 2 ft and for sale for twice the amount they got em for. Would be nice if they made more strict laws on owning larger lizards so that only those who can truly take care of them are allowed to own them.

Maybe it's just Florida then. Florida gators are endangered aren't they? So I'd imagine our laws are more harsh. My dad used to be game and fish commission - you'd think I'd be more "up" on these things. ah well.

I would LOVE to have a pet gator, but the sad truth is that I know I can't house anything that big in the long run.

I guess I will never understand people. Why buy an animal to get rid of it later. I mean animals stay babies for roughly, what, 5% of their lives?

I agree with Pat though, unfortunately I think most are let go and probably in places where they can't find much food. I remember reading an article with an alligator in a Montana pond. They tried fishing it out with lures and eventually shot it with an arrow and didn't kill it. They eventually had to shoot it because they couldn't save it. :(

this is going to sound mean but i have to get my point across:rolleyes:
if you are going to own something of incrediable size a retic,burm,or whatever else it may be you must do the reasearch. You must know the requirements of these animals and what they need. a adult alligator would probably cost you in the long run as much as a child. not to mention all the permits and what not you need. and for a adult that has no respect for the animal and just wants it for the coolness DON:T GET ONE! its more then coolness, for the animal its life and death. they all depend on you

well anyway thier was my vent :8:

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Originally Posted by Purrrfect9

People buy them for the 'cuteness' or 'coolness' factor and rush into keeping the animal without researching them. :(

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I don't think it requires much research to know that alligators get big. The common person, not into herps, knows that.

I understand your point of costing as much as a child but that's a bit of an exagerration.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/articles...tlkidscost.asp

Point taken though

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Originally Posted by Royal_Rodents

if you are going to own something of incrediable size a retic,burm,or whatever else it may be you must do the reasearch. You must know the requirements of these animals and what they need.

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Agreed. It is up to the person buying it to do research way before going and buying one.

For me, there is a tremendous leap from wanting a gator, and actually going and buying one. I think they are interesting and amazing creatures and are probably very rewarding but I can honestly say I will probably never own one.

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I don't think it requires much research to know that alligators get big. The common person, not into herps, knows that.

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You'd be surprised. A lot of people ask:
"How big will they get?"
"Do they stay this small?"
"What if I kept it in a small tank?"
"Could I feed it Dog food or meat from the store?"

Somewhere I read someone was attempting to feed iguana food to their alligator. I don't think that is correct. Maybe I am wrong.

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

Maybe it's just Florida then. Florida gators are endangered aren't they? So I'd imagine our laws are more harsh. My dad used to be game and fish commission - you'd think I'd be more "up" on these things. ah well.

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I think florida gators WERE endangered. I believe in the last few years there numbers have grown dramatically.

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I don't think it requires much research to know that alligators get big. The common person, not into herps, knows that.

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There are still alot of people that think if they keep there pets in small tanks theyll stay small. One of the biggest myths that really needs to be busted.

You know, i was one of those people to who didn't do my research at one time and after a few years of owning RTB's i bought a reticulated python at a reptile show because after i took her out and held her i knew i had to have her. She is the perfect big snake, always eats, never bites or strikes at people no matter what. And although i did no research initially i had the knowledge of owning rtb's and that helped quite a bit, over the few weeks after my purchase i began researching and have made her husbandry as perfect as i know how and she is growing and thriving very well in a large (10'x10') cage. But due to my not researching before i bought i didn't know they were trying to pass a law in my state against retics. Now less than a year later i am being forced to get rid of her due to changes in my state law and because stupid stupid stupid people can't take care of there pets. I'm sorry this isn't related to alligators, but i think this has a lot to do with the fact that that's why there aren't many adults.

I'm real sorry about that Brett. Unfortunately Idiots don't care about consequences. These laws tend to hurt responsible owners because chances are that these same people who let snakes and alligators loose when they get too big will find ways to get a hold of other animals under that radar.

It's like Pit Bull owners, I've known many who take care of their animals and develop the biggest, most muscular, giant babies ever. Peaceful dogs that prefer to lounge around but are constantly badgered because they have them. And why? Because there are idiots who don't take care of them properly, use them to fight, or don't take necessary precautions to make sure their dog doesn't run rampant in a neighborhood.

I had a Croc for a while...Without a doubt the coolest "Pet" I've ever had.

Fl. Gator Head
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...akeRoom009.jpg

There are a few people in the reptile business here in Florida that also have a gator or two. If you include those who live close to water and have "wild" gators in our yards on many days, the number increases dramatically. Here in Central Florida there's a lake or pond around every corner and many have a gator in them. Just a week ago we had to stop on an entrance ramp to a large 6 lane highway to let a 6-8 foot gator cross the road. :)

I was working in Tampa a few years back and i remember hearing on the news that unusual weather and flooding was causing alligators to leave generally unpopulated areas. However, they found new "homes" in ponds and lakes in suburban areas.

If those count as pets then yay! I had a pet alligator for about a month and a half!