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Feeding Questions...

El__Quijote Jul 08, 2003 12:47 PM

I have a baby Alligator, he is about 1.5ft total length. I have been feeding him live feeder fish that he has in his tank with him and mice...
My question is that lately, he has not been eating the fish any more... He east the mice without any problems but I have an enormous amount of feeder fish with him, and I don't see the numbers decreasing too much... What he does instead is wait until I feed the fish pond fish pellets, and he eats those...
Are these good for him???
Since it seems that he likes to eat pellets, are there any other kind of pellets that I could throw in there so that they would be more beneficial to him??? I just don't want him to get full with something that is not nutritious to him and then not eat what would be good for him...
By the way, I'm attaching a picture of the pond that I have him in... I have rearranged it a lot since the picture... I now have an rock island in the middle with a bunch of aquatic plants growing in it (for shade)... He can still hide underneath it, since it is suspended with cement blocks... Oh, and the tank is 8ft in diameter and 3ft tall, although I have only filled it up to the 2ft mark...
Any other suggestions to make about my setup will be greatly appreciated...

Replies (3)

BrianSmith Jul 08, 2003 04:37 PM

In my experience the gators will eat fish in a pinch, but mostly mine have enjoyed them more for "sport" and the thrill of catching and killing something. Maybe also his system has a lysing overload. But to answer your question concerning kibble,.. there is a fish kibble designed specifically for carnivourous fish (Trout) that has an ideal balance of protein for other carnivorous aquatic animals (like gators) so it is very good for them and they really like it. It is commonly referred to as "Trout Chow", but its product name is "Ace High" "Fish Food" "35% trout and bass floating diet". As your little guy is already a foot and a half, get a larger kibble like the 1/4 inch kibble or larger. They make a wide range of kibble and I have made the mistake before of getting a smaller kibble that they couldn't "grow into" and were quickly too big for. Hope this helps. Nice pond, but is that bucket and block assembly strapped or somehow made so it can't fall into the pond??

>>I have a baby Alligator, he is about 1.5ft total length. I have been feeding him live feeder fish that he has in his tank with him and mice...
>>My question is that lately, he has not been eating the fish any more... He east the mice without any problems but I have an enormous amount of feeder fish with him, and I don't see the numbers decreasing too much... What he does instead is wait until I feed the fish pond fish pellets, and he eats those...
>>Are these good for him???
>>Since it seems that he likes to eat pellets, are there any other kind of pellets that I could throw in there so that they would be more beneficial to him??? I just don't want him to get full with something that is not nutritious to him and then not eat what would be good for him...
>>By the way, I'm attaching a picture of the pond that I have him in... I have rearranged it a lot since the picture... I now have an rock island in the middle with a bunch of aquatic plants growing in it (for shade)... He can still hide underneath it, since it is suspended with cement blocks... Oh, and the tank is 8ft in diameter and 3ft tall, although I have only filled it up to the 2ft mark...
>>Any other suggestions to make about my setup will be greatly appreciated...
>>
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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.]

Danny Conner Jul 08, 2003 05:40 PM

Skip the fish. I have never been a big fish feeder. And your gator has clearly outgrown them. Like Brian said now he's just killing them. Focus more on mice or other whole animals if you can afford it.
Now for the big question whats keeping him in this tank? Most people don't realize that crocodilians are adept climbers. I had a 4.5 foot caiman go over a 5 foot fence. With no help just desire. If your little guy is happy he may never try to escape but if he wants to he is out of there.D.C.

Rattler456 Jul 16, 2003 09:05 AM

three words for an open tank outside like that with small crocodilians...

1. Birds
2. of
3. Prey

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