I'll tell you an interesting story about growth in crocs. On or about 1990 I received a Saltwater Crocodile named Morton from the Gladys Porter Zoo. Morton was then 18 years old BUT only 4-5' long. He had lived with some Phillipine Crocs that were dominant and simply didn't let him eat and kept him afraid. I placed Morton, the dwarf 4' long male C. porosus in his own enclosure outside and Morton took off. I MEAN REALLY TOOK OFF for in two years Morton grew to about 13-14" long and weighed over 600 lbs. It was like he was in suspended animation and man he played catch up quick. Under normal circumstances I would have said it was impossible for one to grow that quick but I saw it with my own eyes. He became the father of many baby porosus and is now at Gatorland. Has anyone else had a similar experience? The Wakiki Aquarium had collected him on Pulau as a hatchling so we knew the exact age of him..That growth rate shocked me and I wonder if that's how they compensate for lean growing years in drought etc?. Anyway that's the story of Morton, a very fine Saltie. He and I used to be good friends...He never once tried to eat me...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

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