Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got home from following up on a tip of a 3 foot alligator free to good home. Sure enough It was a 3 foot alligator free to good home. Well, I'm bringing him home friday, and want to give him the best home possible. Just so you know I'm not another kid thinking it would be cool to have a gator for a pet, I have got many years experience with snakes. Currently have 50 in the house with over half of them being venomous in their own hot room, BUT!! I don't know the first thing about alligators YET!!! but I have always wanted one and am very eager to learn all I can. I haven't done an internet search yet. That's where Im going from here. Any how, if you guys don't mind giving me some husbandry advice I would really appreciate it. If you just post some good links to were I could go to learn would be great. This alligator is supposably pretty snappy, but does calm down after you get him out of his cage.(I was told)and favors females. Is there any tricks to calming them or is a helpless effort? I plan on, if all goes well, using him in educational programs I do here at the local schools, so I would prefer him to not be to snappy. Thanks in advance for any help. Billy

Hey Bill,

Congrats on the decision to get a gator. Alligators might be pretty snappy from time to time, but can calm down with regular handling. Some wont however. Alligators are no different than any other reptile as I am sure you know quite well that they all have their own individual temperaments, etc. A good source for learning some husbandry info would be:

www.crocodilian.com/crocfaq

If you want some books:
- "The Ultimate Guide to Crocodilians in Captivity" is certainly a good choice. Chris Dieter is the author and frequents this forum. There are tons of people here that would be willing to provide you some info as well. Israel Dupont, Bill Moss, Chris Dieter, Danny Conner and a few others are great people to ask for information. I am certainly not a professional, but I will try to help if I can as well. Good luck with your gator. Post some pics when you get a chance!

Chris

>>I just got home from following up on a tip of a 3 foot alligator free to good home. Sure enough It was a 3 foot alligator free to good home. Well, I'm bringing him home friday, and want to give him the best home possible. Just so you know I'm not another kid thinking it would be cool to have a gator for a pet, I have got many years experience with snakes. Currently have 50 in the house with over half of them being venomous in their own hot room, BUT!! I don't know the first thing about alligators YET!!! but I have always wanted one and am very eager to learn all I can. I haven't done an internet search yet. That's where Im going from here. Any how, if you guys don't mind giving me some husbandry advice I would really appreciate it. If you just post some good links to were I could go to learn would be great. This alligator is supposably pretty snappy, but does calm down after you get him out of his cage.(I was told)and favors females. Is there any tricks to calming them or is a helpless effort? I plan on, if all goes well, using him in educational programs I do here at the local schools, so I would prefer him to not be to snappy. Thanks in advance for any help. Billy
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

Thanks for the link Chris. Already spent an hour reading there and just got started. Lots of good info. Im already dreaming of the nice big cage Im gonna build him in my (heated)garage. I will post some pics as soon as I get him. Billy