Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is the current situation with Spot(American Alligator Hatchling).

He is a very docile speciman. He never hissed, opened his mouth, or attempted to bite me. He however is very active and walks along my hands(hand under hand). He was very active, but not aggressive, hence my selection.

He has not eaten at all. We are now on 11 days(known, could be much longer). I have had him for 9 and the pet shop had him for 2 beyond that. I asked them if he ever ate for them and they said no.

I have tried a variety of foods. Live and killed crickets, chicken on a coat hanger, Live and dead fish of a variety of sizes and species, reptomin pellets, and Live and killed pinky mice.

On Saturday I noticed some slightly darker splotches on the underside of the bottom jaw. He may have rubbed his jaw on the glass and irritated it. I am not sure. I will include pics tomorrow.

On Sunday I went over to observe him(I do this quite often). He was basking in the sun(all spectrum light) and I believe asleep. I must have startled him because he opened his mouth and hissed(very uncharacteristic). I looked into his mouth for the first time and everything looked good in there. No sores or anything. Out of desperation I took a dead pinky in some tongs and aggitated him(moving it along his jaw). I was hoping to bring out a defensive bite on the mouse that might pursuade him to eat. He did snap at it once, but didn't latch on or try to eat.

I have a Vet appointment for Wednesday, 3/9/2005.

When the vet wieghs him I would like to know about what he should wiegh on average. He is 12 inches long. Any advice would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt

I think that you are stressing him out too much for him to eat. Spooking him and then trying to force feed will defiantly make him not eat for an even longer period of time. Cover his tank with a sheet or something so he cant see whats going on outside. Sometimes it takes many weeks for crocs to feel comfortable enough in their new surrounding to eat. Thats just fine. I would just stop handling him until he starts to eat. All the interaction is probably very stressful on his end.

Good luck

>>Here is the current situation with Spot(American Alligator Hatchling).
>>
>>He is a very docile speciman. He never hissed, opened his mouth, or attempted to bite me. He however is very active and walks along my hands(hand under hand). He was very active, but not aggressive, hence my selection.
>>
>>He has not eaten at all. We are now on 11 days(known, could be much longer). I have had him for 9 and the pet shop had him for 2 beyond that. I asked them if he ever ate for them and they said no.
>>
>>I have tried a variety of foods. Live and killed crickets, chicken on a coat hanger, Live and dead fish of a variety of sizes and species, reptomin pellets, and Live and killed pinky mice.
>>
>>On Saturday I noticed some slightly darker splotches on the underside of the bottom jaw. He may have rubbed his jaw on the glass and irritated it. I am not sure. I will include pics tomorrow.
>>
>>On Sunday I went over to observe him(I do this quite often). He was basking in the sun(all spectrum light) and I believe asleep. I must have startled him because he opened his mouth and hissed(very uncharacteristic). I looked into his mouth for the first time and everything looked good in there. No sores or anything. Out of desperation I took a dead pinky in some tongs and aggitated him(moving it along his jaw). I was hoping to bring out a defensive bite on the mouse that might pursuade him to eat. He did snap at it once, but didn't latch on or try to eat.
>>
>>I have a Vet appointment for Wednesday, 3/9/2005.
>>
>>When the vet wieghs him I would like to know about what he should wiegh on average. He is 12 inches long. Any advice would be very appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Matt

::"

In the basking area about 80-85 in the day, about 75 at night.

In the water I would say right about 78 in the day and a little less at night.

Thanks,
Matt

I would increase the basking temps 5 degrees, but make sure the gator has a dry area that's cooler. Make sure that the gator has several places within the thermal gradient to hide and leave him alone. No handling. Offer food at night with all lights off. Place a couple dead minnows or other small fish near the waters edge. Keep the enclosure room quiet and as traffic free as possible. Remove any food not eaten in the morning.

I should still take him to the Vet on Wednesday, right?

you might want to consider taking it in to a vet for a checkup regardless whether anything appears to be wrong with him or not. Just to be sure ya know.

Yeah, I thought it best to take him to the vet just in case it wasn't stress related.

Then everyone keeps saying it is his stress level. So, taking him to the Vet would only add to that I would think.

I am going to take him though.

Thanks,

Matt

I have found with my gator babies that messing with them and looking at them all the time is very stressful. Take him to the vet, worm him and then leave him alone. I would take Mr. Whites advice in regards to the temps and feeding. I have some that I caught in the wild and I've found that when they are passive they are stressed. They sould be spunky. Hissing and opening the mouth-these things are natural. You need to be more understanding of what you have. You have an alligator. It's not a poodle, and shouldn't be treated as so. Even if you have him for the rest of your life, he will still be a wild animal. I wish you the best with your baby.

He is being much more aggressive now. I don't know if this is because he is under stress or under less stress. Last night for instance...

I turn off the light and change the bulb at night. Last night when I touched the light and he started hissing. Then when I moved the lamp to change the bulb he jumped up and snapped at me.

Does this mean his stress level is reduced, or that it is so high it is causing defensive snaps?

He is going to the Vet today at 4:30pm EST. Taking him in a styrofoam cooler. Any travel recommendations?

How was the trip to the vet? Any new findings? My alligator does the same thing when I go to change the bulbs and go near his tank! At least we seem to be in the same boat!!!
Monica