How to Buy Alligators

An alligator may seem like an exciting exotic pet to own, but a full grown alligator is very difficult to care for because of the large size and unpredictable temperament. Alligators are wild animals and should only be owned by experienced reptile handlers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Obtain the proper permits required to own an exotic animal. Check with your local authority to learn the related laws. Owning an alligator without a permit is illegal and can result in large fines and jail time if you are caught.

2. Understand that an alligator is a wild animal and no matter how much handling it has, it will never be completely tame. You can't take away an alligator's wild instincts.

3. Prepare the enclosure before you bring the alligator home. Remember that alligators grow rapidly and will need a very large habitat when fully grown. Housing an adult alligator is very expensive.

4. Ensure that you are prepared to feed your alligator the proper diet, including whole prey. A good diet includes a variety or different meats. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations on the proper foods for your alligator.

5. Buy your alligator from a reputable breeder to ensure he is in good health. Make sure your alligator is alert; a lethargic alligator is be a warning sign of potential health problems.

6. Handle your young alligator frequently to get him accustomed to you. An alligator that gets used to being handled when he is young is less likely to bite out of fear. Always be cautious when holding your alligator.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are interested in owning an alligator but don't know if you can make the commitment to care for an animal that can grow to be 12 feet long, look into buying another kind of reptile.
• Don't release a captive alligator back into the wild. It puts the alligator and other people in danger because the alligator has lost it's natural fear of humans.
• Don't take an alligator from the wild. Removing an animal from his natural habitat is against the law.

Resources

• For additional information on the proper care and diet of alligators visit the Crocidilian Captive Care website.

[saltwater101]

on 11/16/2007 sorry for being blunt, but i think its extremely irresponsible to make people think that an alligator is an animal you can have as a pet. even though its possible, its a bad idea. i work for canada's largest reptile rescue, and we see so many animals come in that are a)illegally owned and b)are brought to us due to a bite or being expensive, or simply boredom. Recently we had someone bring us a Caiman because it was too vicious and they had never been able to hold or catch it and had done what they considered was all the research. when my co-worker opened the box, he was able to reach in and grab the animal, and said it was fine. The following week we were already using it for children to pet (with its mouth taped of course). so even though he thought he knew what he was doing, even a beginner zookeeper was able to handle it first shot. please do not get an alligator as a pet. ever.