Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a baby alligator this past summer in June. It's now 7 months old, almost 8 months. I bought him from a guy who said he kept breeding the smaller more docile alligators and had made them dwarfs over time. I know that's possible,but that there is also still the chance it has the genes to be a larger alligator. I'm totally fine with him either way. I have land and will have an outside and winter inside enclosure for him. I also handle him everyday and for hours. So no matter what I'm keeping him and think it's wrong to let one go just because it got bigger than you planned so some redneck can see him swimming and shoot him. Anyway my question is do you think he's a dwarf or regular size becaue he's been growing fast. I've included some dates and measurements below. I'm just curious and want to know if these growth rates are normal or if it's still too early to tell how big he will be? I also keep him with all the correct lighting and heat lamps. I hand feed him daily until he's full and doesn't want anymore.
12-25-2010 14.5 inches long head to tail
12-30-2010 14 7/8 inches
1-14-2011 16 inches
1-20-2011 16 7/8 inches

To my knowledge there is no such thing as a dwarf alligator. Most captive alligators don't have the enclosure sizes to reach their growth potentials. So one may be misled into thinking that they have a dwarf when their animal does not grow to its potential.
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old
Help me find this snake!

Thanks for the info. That's kind of what I figured, either that or they weren't giving theirs the proper lighting and living conditions. I appreciate the help. I'm new to it, but really dedicated to making the best for him.