Full Grown Pet Alligators?

[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.

[aeio540]

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.

[Royal_Rodents]

this is going to sound mean but i have to get my point across
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

[ru55ell14]

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

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

[ru55ell14]

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

[aeio540]

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.

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.

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

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.

[NateDogg13]

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

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

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.

[Brett89]

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.

[aeio540]

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.

[coldbloodaddict]

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

Fl. Gator Head