Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am hoping someone can help me out on this. I have a young gator, 3 months old aprox. He is ALWAYS hungry. My last crocodillian would self regulate it's own food. This one seems like he will eat...and eat..and eat, if you let him. He has been eating once a day. I have fish in with him, but he rarely catches those. So I feed him about 6 mealworms a night. He still wants more. NOT superworms. These were pretty small and thin mealys. It was all the pet store had. Today I brought him a pinky mouse. He gobbled it down. I also bought more goldfish. I had the bag in his water so the goldfish could regulate in the water temp. But he busted into the bag and ate a goldfish about 10 minutes after he ate the pinky mouse. He is now hunting for more food... O_O Can he over eat? Any ideas why he is always so hungry? When should I stop giving him more??? He is just a baby.
Thank you for any advice.

It is hard to overfed baby gators, they just grow faster.
What is your temps? if it is too hot they will eat all the time.
I wouldn´t use goldfish as they are a poor foodsource.
You can try earthworms/nightcrawlers. they are great food for baby gators. And also pinkie mice and rats.
Fresh fish are a very good too.

Jonas

Hi Jonas,
Thank you for your reply. My temps are 78 water and about 70-75 air.
I have had Rosey Reds in with him the whole time. But they seem too fast for him to catch. he has tried many times. Just fails each time. lol The breeder I bought him from suggested the gold fish as they are slower. Though once gone, I plan to try just the rosys again. He is a little pig. I was just worried because from what I could read on www.crocodilian.com It says they eat I think it was 3-4 times a week... and this guy eats every day. And doesn't seem satisfied after his meal. Though finaly last night, after the pinky mouse, and goldfish, he and possibly a second goldfish (am pretty sure he got another) he finaly decided to take it easy. His belly is huge today. He just loves stalking food and searching the banks for food items. He loves the mealworms and gulped down his pinky mouse. I have not given him crickets yet, but have some for him, once his belly isn't so swollen looking. lol I just worry I will over feed this guy, as he seems to want to eat eat eat and not stop. And I can't seem to find anything on the subject. And on that website listed it says 3-4 times a week for a baby... while he is hungry daily. I don't mind feeding him daily. I love watching him eat. Just don't want to hurt him by over feeding, if that is possible.

I understand that you are worried, but as long he is looking good and don´t get obese i wouldn´t worry.
All baby gators aren´t the same. Some need more food than others. You just got a little eatingmachine
Maybe sometimes you can skip a day of feeding. He don´t always need to be fed just because he looks hungry. Their instinct tells them to eat when they can, so it is up to you to give him the right amount of food. As i mentioned before, regulate his foodintake if he looks eather thin or fat.

Jonas

Thank you! That eases my worries! =)