Full Grown Pet Alligators?

[aeio540]

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

[Patrick Long]

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.

[Purrrfect9]

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.

[MarkS]

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.

[AzureN1ght]

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

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.

[JLC]

Here's a picture of Wally!



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. VERY cool 'gator and I'll treasure those memories forever!!

[ChrisBowsman]

^ that's a cool looking gator

Always one of my favorite stops at the zoo.

[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.

[ChrisBowsman]

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

[NateDogg13]

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.

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.