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I have a american alligator that is around four feet long. It has never had any health problems before now. It has had a very consistant diet it's whole life. I feed frozen thawed rodents and chicks with occassional feeder fish and chunks of chicken and beef. It has also been supplied with a UV lamp that up until recently was on everyday. It has a huge pond filter so his water is very sanitary. Now to the reason that I am posting this. In the last couple of weeks his teeth seem to have become brittle and started breaking or falling out. The gums also have a very light pink cast to them in a few spots. I have done some reading and the closest thing that I can come up with is Metabolic Bone Disease. Some of the source's said that they can start to lose teeth(but he doesn't seem to have any other signs of MBD). In every other way he is completely healthy he still eats like a pig and behaves as he always has. His body condition is perfect. So my questions are...Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what could be going on? Should I start him on a calcium supplement? I guess I thought he was getting enough with the rodents and chicks but I am willing to try anything. If I should start him on a supplement are there any good ones out there and what is the best way to administer them? I will also be replaceing the UV light tommorrow. Any suggestions are very appreciated.

Thanks for any help, Mikaela

This is a fairly common problem among 'pet' alligators and it does have to do with dietary calcium either the quantity or being able to utilize it.

We recently received two animals from a museum in this condition. The simplest advice I can offer is to put the animal on Mazuri crocodilian diet which was in part formulated to prevent scenarios like you have described. Deal with the water changes until your animal gets his health back. It won't take long. We have rehabilitated several just using that diet and the change in the teeth is pretty impressive.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

Agreed on the Mazuri crocodilian diet. Great but messy diet.

I have heard that UV is not as significant in crocodilians fed a quality diet as it is in lizards. Comments?

I second/third the Mazuri, but geez, the mess!

>>We recently received two animals from a museum in this condition. The simplest advice I can offer is to put the animal on Mazuri crocodilian diet which was in part formulated to prevent scenarios like you have described. Deal with the water changes until your animal gets his health back. It won't take long. We have rehabilitated several just using that diet and the change in the teeth is pretty impressive.
>>website

Hey Chris,

How is the turn around on this diet? We had a HORRIBLE alligator come in. 7 years old and less than 2 feet. I flipped on the owner, who cried when he surrendered the animal. I was, well, not really that tactful with my comments to him. This guy has started to eat on his own pretty good, from what I hear from my friend who rehabs. Maybe ill have to chat with you more off forum on this. I have been kicking around keeping some mazuri here on hand. What is shelf life? I can go months with nothing here and then have like 6 come through in a few weeks. I think I had 2 in 2007 to be honest and 9 or so this year.

The best part was my call to check in that I had secured the animal for transport. "Family" rule if you will. When I pick up a gator, I have to report in to my gator family and let them know I have all my parts and so does the animal. I believe I told them that I had all my parts, the gator has no teeth so he couldnt have done a $#$$% thing.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

I don't know the shelf life, but I bought a 5lb quantity from Nature's Coast Exotics. I keep in the freezer with my frozen rodents to keep it safe from meal bugs, and to preserve it somewhat.

I'm not Chris but I can offer some suggestions.
Find any feed store that carries Purina products. By feed store I refer to horse/cattle feed. The feed store may have to call their distributor but they will find Mazuri for you as it is the zoo division for Purina. By using a feed store, they can piggy back the shipping charges with their main order and it will cost you next to nothing. A 50 lb bag goes for 45-55 dollars. They sell 2 kinds, one that is pellets and one that is monkey biscuit size.
I use a small handful daily so a bag that large lasts a very long time. The last time I ordered was in April and I still have a lot left. I'm only feeding two animals with it so that has something to do with it. I keep the feed in a snap top container and I have not had a problem with insects.
Bert