Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My alligator Evander is a young gator as most of you know. He's the only one of the two that does this, but he bellows frequently from time to time (alot of the times in the middle of the night). If I am watching him he wont do it, but I have hid myself and watched him and he does it much like Adult males do mating calls. He lowers his back into the water, stretches out and then bellows. Does anyone else ever see this happening. To those that have raised gators for a while, when do you start seeing the males start to bellow? Is it common for gators this young to start bellowing mating calls or could this be something different?

I appreciate any ideas!

Chris
-----
Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

Chris,

This is not unusual for a subadult alligator. He is beginning to sow his oats....
-----
Israel Dupont
Winter Haven, FL

Aaahhh! Good. It is really fun to sit and listen to him. He is doing it much more frequently these days. I just love the voices of alligators.
-----
Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

Also my little ( 75 cm) female Chinese Alligator is very vocal: No bellowing, but several different grunts, depending on her mood.
But I agree with you, Chris: The bellowing of American Alligators is most impressive. I never forget an early misty morning at Florida´s Lake Griffin in May, where I heard probably hundreds of Alligators bellow....Incredible!