Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i own a couple of these magnificant creatures we call alligators and i had a couple of questions. On the crocodile hunter he is always talking about lactic acid build up in crocodilians, so i was wondering if you handle hatchlings will they have a lactic acid build up that my cause problems. Also when my 4.5 foot AA gets very upset he gets bubbles in his eyes it kinda looks foamy does anyone have an idea why? Also i hope that i will be welcomed into this crocodilian society with welcome and open arms thanke in advance,,,Robb

I think that "flood" of lactic acid in the wild crocs is from their explosive bursts of physical power that they instictually feel the necessity to employ in attempts to get away or defend themselves against their perceived attackers. I don't think that the minor squirming or minor stress of a more domesticated gator being held against its will quite compares unless it is in stark terror and actually thinks you are trying to kill it. But this is just an educated guess, there's a lot about this subject that I don't know. But from my personal experience I have never detected any excessive trauma or shock in any gators from being handled against their will. They always do quite fine and it seems that for the most part it is mild resistance and that they seem to understand that no real harm is intended toward them. Out of love and respect though I do try to leave the less approachable ones as alone as possible and to give them as much space as is humanly possible.

I think the bubbles are caused from when the gator hisses or growls with such a force that the air is pressurized back up through their tear ducts from their throat. I don't think there is any practical purpose for this and that it is more of a by-product of the other action.

>>i own a couple of these magnificant creatures we call alligators and i had a couple of questions. On the crocodile hunter he is always talking about lactic acid build up in crocodilians, so i was wondering if you handle hatchlings will they have a lactic acid build up that my cause problems. Also when my 4.5 foot AA gets very upset he gets bubbles in his eyes it kinda looks foamy does anyone have an idea why? Also i hope that i will be welcomed into this crocodilian society with welcome and open arms thanke in advance,,,Robb
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It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Systems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]

Don't forget humans have the same problem. We build up lactic acid in our muscles through extreme muscle use.
Think of lifting weights... when you reach the point of muscle failure - that's lactic acid build-up in your muscles...

Mr. F