Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello guys, haven't visited this forum in years! But anyway, I was wondering what you guys have been doing for water changes for your personal crocs? Do you guys clean the water like a fish tank? meaning doing partial water changes throughout the week or just plain change all the water out every few weeks or so? Of course a filter is mandatory. Please let me know as my gators are getting huge and don't know if I should change all the water out or do partial changes. As I noticed in the past that doing no changes at all gave my boys mouthrot or something from the bacteria even though the water was crystal clean. Thanks in advance!

Indoors our outdoors, what are you keeping them in, and how big are they?

We dump all the water in our 'tub' style enclosures every 3-4 days. All the rest are in natural earth ponds. We have found that through the years there really is no substitute for complete changes although filtration does delay the frequency quite a bit.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

I have them in a 150 gal tank and they are about 1 1/ft. Until they outgrow their enclosure but for now its a hassle lugging a 150 gal tank to change the water completely. I was wondering WITH filtration would it beok to change the water partially every 3-4 days without any harm or harmful bacteria starting to form.

Yes, that should keep your levels pretty low if you have a good filter.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

Thank you.

A little surprised at Chris's non-scientific answer

May I suggest buying a simple test kit from any aquarium store? It will tell you exactly how polluted the water is.
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Real time Rogue, a captive Palp

another fine suggestion. I was wondering if the little "turtle doctor's" are useful for the water as well if any?

Haha, just direct and to the point on that one. Honestly I wouldn't think you need to test it if you are doing that many changes. We never have tested ours when they are in tanks.
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CDieter
'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

ok guys... last question. I have a 75 gallon tank that I keep my smallest baby in which is probably around 10-12 inches(hatchling) I am thinking of adding some baby 1" red belly pirahnas to his tank. Would it be ok to house them together if I am keeping the gator well fed? Thanks!

nope.
Not ok.
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Real time Rogue, a captive Palp

Chris,

You're absolutely right - if you're making complete water changes (even once a week) you don't need to test the water.

But if you're trying to delay or want to know how long you can go without changing by using a filter - then the test kit would be a good way to go...

Mr. F
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Real time Rogue, a captive Palp

Yea well I was wanting to know if I can change the water as you would with a normal fish tank aquarium changing the water weekly, partially 25% and up. And why not the Red belly piranhas? they are 1" and don't think they'd do much harm with plenty of hiding spaces so the gator doesn't "happen" to eat once by chance. Would not keep them together forever. Just wanted to see if I can temporarily do so until the alligator outgrows or the piranhas do first.

you can buy a 10 gallon aquarium for less than $20. House them there temporarily.

If you care about the safety of your pets, then you don't put 2 aggressive species together. I know piranhas are lazy eaters (I've had piranhas) but they do occasionally nip at stuff or if they're hungry they will investigate.

Besides, how do you plan to prevent a feeding frenzy when you feed the gator? As soon as he takes the food in the water the piranhas will come - they won't kill him, but certainly nip and possibly take out a few toes. Not worth the risk if you care about them.

Mr. F
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Real time Rogue, a captive Palp

In addition to what the other poster just said, why make the gator compete for food? For that matter, why make the piranha A. Compete for food or B. Risk becoming food themselves?

I tried this experiment with my first gator and a couple of nice South American Red Terror cichlids...didn't end well for the fish. The gator got a nice treat when he finally decided to eat them though...

I probably wont put them together but I just wanted to see if they would get along. The piranha are 1" babies and the baby gator is less than a foot. I also do not feed the gator in the tank due to the mess it leaves behind and feed him in a separate area(the tub) Was just curious to see if it was possible as I feed him everytday and he doesnt touch the goldfish that are already in the tank with him. But I also do not want the piranhas eating his toes or tail. haha