Albino Gator Preview

[neilgolli]

Here's a quick preview. We are working on a website now and hope to have it completed in the next month or so.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...7/neilgreg.jpg


Were going to need a crocodilian forum shortly

[LadyOhh]

Those things are awesome...

Absolutely gorgeous.

Congrats, Neil!!!

[JLC]

Those are insane looking beauties!!!

[xdeus]

Wow, those are awesome! Do you have to keep them out of the sun?

[jknudson]

Sweet!

I was actually wondering the same thing as Lawrence, do you use shades of some kind for their basking areas?

[Argentra]

Oh WOW!

I love gators, especially albinos, and those two are Superb!! If I get to realize my dream and have that exotics refuge, alligators are definitely going to be number one residents.

[joepythons]

Those are cool looking Neil

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Those two are gorgeous!

[neilgolli]

Wow, those are awesome! Do you have to keep them out of the sun?

They have been kept out of the sun most of their lives and there are varying opinions on wether or not it is necessary. Greg and I both believe that UV light is crucial to their long term health. Some believe that their skin may burn in the sun, we think that the white skin will better reflect the light and do not think they will burn. Others have suggested that the sun will damage their eyes. While some adults do appear to have cloudy eyes and I think this could be damage from the sun, I think that it is related to a possible genetic defect in some of the animals, not effecting most individuals. While going over the animals very closely last week, some of the smaller animals pupils did not seem to dilate correctly when transitioning from a dark room to the outdoor sunlight. I think that a small percentage of the animals are born with this problem and that those animals are the ones later in life to develop the "cloudy" eyes.

They will be housed in an outdoor enclosure protected 50/50 from the sun, from shade from both Greg's building and several large oak trees. They will have two separate ponds and always have the option to bask in the sun or lay in the shade.

[xdeus]

Thanks for the great info, Neil!

Although I don't necessarily agree with your theory about the white reflecting the sun and preventing skin damage. If that was the case, I wouldn't get burned as easily as I do. It could just be that reptiles have a different defense against harmful UV exposure than mammals. BTW, have you ever heard of a reptile getting sunburned or skin cancer?