Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone....

My father sort of 'happened' into a 3 foot plus alligator from some neighbors. Poor guy was living in a 3 foot x 2 foot blue rubbermaid bin with no heat or light. The bin was filled with about 4 inches of black water that looked like it had been pumped out of someone's septic tank. Neither me nor my father have any experience with crocodilians, but we figured that we could at least learn and try to help the gator out til he finds a suitable home.

Poor gator has some nasty infected-looking scale rot on him. Some on his back, face, and jaw. We're trying to locate a suitable vet, or at least someone who is knowledgable and is reasonably close to us to try to get him some help, but until that happens, what is the best we can do for him? (increase temp/humidity, neosporin, remove water from enclosure, etc?)

Thanks everyone

Wow, that is one sick gator. You should be given a medal for taking it in. I am not entirely sure what it is but it could be some form of stomatitis. Its a viral herpes infection that occurs in unsanitary conditions. Be careful because I am pretty sure humans can get it from animals. I thought it only occurred around the mouth but maybe it spreads. Keep the water extremely clean and start feeding it whole foods like mice and small rats. Get that animal to a vet as soon as possible. Where do you live? Maybe someone here can recommend one in your area.
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1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Centralian Carpet Python, 1.0 Jungle Carpet Python, 1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.2 Peruvian Red-Tail Boas, 2.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 1.3 Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie, 1.0 Yellow Bearded Dragon

We're starting to feed him mice now. He took the first one but hasn't eaten since then. I think he may need an acclimation period before he'll be willing to feed regularly. We gave him the biggest enclosure we had, about 4x2x2 aquarium, but I'd definitely like to see him in bigger, soon. Not NEARLY big enough for me or the gator to be happy! We of course gave him fresh water, and are running a filter and water heater. For the moment he's got a dry basking spot heated by lamps on a thermostat. I suppose its better than what he was in...but i'd like to see him in a much better situation soon!

We live in the schuylkill co. PA area. There are a few closeby animal hospitals/vets but I dont think any of them see exotics, let alone a 40 inch gator with an attitude! I've considered one of the nearby reptile/pet stores a possibility for a lookover (some of you may know who the main dealer is in my area), but I'm not sure that we'll be able to really have him treated there. If anyone knows a good vet who'd take on this kind of animal near Allentown/Wilkesbarre/Philly please pass on the info.

Thanks
FoP
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http://www.herpvetconnection.com/penn.shtml
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1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Centralian Carpet Python, 1.0 Jungle Carpet Python, 1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.2 Peruvian Red-Tail Boas, 2.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 1.3 Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie, 1.0 Yellow Bearded Dragon

Hey neighbor, from Harrisburg here, and congrats to you, I love to hear when an animal is rescued.

forgottenfriend.org/index.php

Check these ppl out, they operate out of Lancaster PA, and might be able to help you out or point you in the right direction.

Keep us updated with his progress, and good luckwith everything!

does this animal have red dots on its belly? you may want to try swabing the infected area's with betadine, you may also concider 10-20 minutes daily soaking in potassium promananganate, I recently delt with i similar problem so I may be able to help you out a bit with this.