Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok we bought a baby gator today at our petstore and we were wondering what a good habitat for it is? we have him (or her) in a tank with about 3 inch high water and we have some rocks for basking and a heat lamp. we're getting a 150 gallon tank and we want some ideas on an ideal habitat. do they like lillypads and seaweed and moss? how about a running waterfall or undrwater cave. what do you think, we would really like to know. thanks!

I have found that they like things to hide behind and hide under, they get stressed easily and if they are always exposed to people walking buy and looking in or tapping on the tank it can cause stress, stress can actually kill a crocodilian. They should have a log or something to hide under to feel protected from the unknown and should be able to fully submerge under water. The water should also be filtered.

But at the same time I think that if the decoration takes away from moving around space then it is probably not a good idea.

Go to the croc faq pages. They will tell you all you need to know.crocodil

I prefer nature simulating enclosures. I think you will find however, with crocodilians and tanks, simple is better. I prefer not to disrupt filter flow. It inhibits the cleaning of the water and even heating. I wouldn't invest to much resources in a tank that he will not be in long. With proper care, he will soon need more than a tank. My larger enclosures Have plastic plants, etc. I even have had box turtles share an enclosure. They were seperated by a partition. The humidity was not a problem in an open air enviroment. Box Turtles from the south east should handle humidity well. They are even hard to find except after spring and summer showers. In a tank it would probably be a problem. There is a limited amount of air flow. I prefer to have more space and air flow, before I make the enviroment any less sterile. Crocodilians are very durable, but I think a hatchling is still a hatchling. When they are small, I am careful that they ingest only the food I offer, The water very clean, even water temperature, proper range of land temperatures, water/land amount, uv lighting, and little more. I like to "play" as they grow. I have had only a few hatchling crocodilians, and I am satisfied with what I have. I am not an expert. Just sharing my thoughts.