"Good analogy, but there are a couple big distinctions between a 200 lb land tortoise and a 500-1000 lb aquatic."



The thing is many captive American Alligators never get that size. I know Osceola was stunted by poor care in a former home, and she is shy of 7' long and around 140lbs.



Many female American Alligators never exceed the 8' mark. Females RARELY exceed 9' even when power fed, and many are around the 200lb class MAX.



"However an adult alligator has its own set of requirements that you know are much more involved."



Indeed. Especially if you get the larger of the 2 sexes. Tending to a female American Alligator is not that much more then a Water Monitor though, another animal that I mentioned, maybe even less. Water Monitors need even more stringent requirements to keep the ambient temps proper for them to live long healthy lives. American Alligators do well at much lower ambient temps.



"call the dealer and he'll probably give you more than you paid for it as a hatchling."



Or usually more, as even with Sulcatas, the large ones are wanted by people, especially if you get it to maturity without pyramiding the poor thing up.



"If your alligator gets too big for you to manage, it will be hard to find anyone willing to take it for free. There are certainly not as many homes for adult gators as there are hatchlings being sold into the pet trade."



^ I completely agree with this.



"Sliders and iguanas are great comparisons because they're the two most common species that end up at rescues."



I made the comparisons broadly, not ever meaning that the care that an alligator requires equals the care the other animals mentioned required. What I was getting at is that every species has drawbacks, and it seems peculiar to me to go after American Alligators specifically.

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