Alligator Question

[Kerryann]

I was watching the show wild justice and it raised a couple questions for me. I am not sure if this the right spot to ask my question but it seemed the most logical to me. I know that alligators are one of gods creatures and being a vegetarian I wish them no harm, but how do you keep them when they get large enough to seriously hurt you? I see pet shops selling the baby alligators here all the time and it worries me that they are not, in most cases, going to homes where long term planning has been put into their care. Can you train an alligator not to eat your child or dog? Or are these animals you put in an enclosure and just don't interact with once they are larger?
Do they learn to love their owner and just not bite, much like a dog?

 

[tortadise]

No they do not. I had caimans crocodiles and some gators years back. It didn't matter how often I handles them once they reach sexual maturity especially makes they get very dominant and aggressive. In some situations at farms trainers claim they domesticated them. But it's only a matter of time when they have an "off" day and become defensive. They are still wild at heart an. Very dangerous. I have seen some stories of people that have had no injury or aggressor behavior acted on them but I still believe its a matter of time.

Hope my experience helped you out.

I also did notice difference in species and temperature. The nile crocodile was very aggressive and the caimans were very "docile" in my keepings.

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Tortadise more or less said it well. Crocodilians are NOT "pets" nor can they really be considered domesticated in the true sense of either of those words (honestly, I could argue the same for many other reptiles commonly possessed by private keepers...but that's another rabbit trail). An adult crocodilian is not different than keeping any other large predator, like a lion or a bear, or whatever. They command a lot of a space, a hefty feeding bill, and most importantly, a lot of respect...because the reality is these are animals that can kill you. It is frightening that people can acquire them so easily.

All that said, it is not impossible to keep them and care for them properly, and there are a handful of responsible keepers who do. But to concur with Tortadise, and answer your questions...

Can you train an alligator not to eat your child or dog?

Nope. Crocodilians are hardwired to quite simply, "bite first and ask questions later." Biting is more or less their response to anything that enters their immediate space, whether it be perceived prey, or an intruder to their territory, or a potential nest-raider.

Once the object/creature in question is within their jaws (if it is not driven away), they determine whether it is food ("can I potentially eat and swallow this?") or if it is too large, they would likely consider it a threat and either way, proceed to render it asunder. It's not pretty.

Do they learn to love their owner and just not bite, much like a dog?

Again, nope. Like arguably all reptiles, they are not capable of the same "love" we perceive canines to have. Nearly everything with a crocodilian is instinctual and pre-programmed. Yeah, they can learn and pick up a few things, but these merely adaptations to already established and conditioned behaviors. A captive alligator is no affection and is always only going to look out for #1.

 

[Kerryann]

I see them all the time in pet stores and I worry so much about their quality of life. I was at this party like 10 years ago and this guy(the homeowner who was a friend of a friend of a friend or something) had an alligator in a dog cage in his garage. I don't think he actually kept it there as a home but moved it there so no one would mess with it during the party. He started with I want to show you something, and i was like yah right.. hmmm... and then was startled when it was an animal. He had it under a tarp and when he pulled the tarp back it was very aggressive. It was about two feet long. I asked him how he was going to take care of it when it got about 6 feet long and he just replied it was his pet and he would figure it out.
I will admit they are cute as babies but I don't understand how people can acquire any animal without putting in the long term planning?

I haven't watched the full show yet but it looked like the person who owned the alligator lived in a trailer or camper. Seeing that made me feel like I always feel when I see alligators in pet shops or during that first encounter.

I was kind of hoping to hear that maybe I was wrong in thoughts about them and their nature.

 

[Len B]

Gators are not for everybody,but with understanding their needs and habits you can enjoy them in captivity,Raised from a baby they are not normally aggressive, but the potential for disaster always exist when you are close to them, they move quick and have sensors along both sides of the mouth that triggers the bite action no matter how docile they are, it's built into them. When I was younger I had the opportunity to spend some time at Ross Allen's house and gator farm in Anthony Florida,Between him and the lady that actually cared for gators (Gladis), They taught me a lot about the habits and do's and don'ts when keeping gators, So I feel comfortable around them.I wish it was legal to keep them where I live so I could raise a couple,I have kept them before from hatchling to eight feet, and never had a bad experience, or one of those "almost minutes" where something bad might happen, I added an old pic taken of the last gator I kept, Arthur,

 

[Nay]

What an awesome picture!!!
I saw a show on Animal planet last year, called Fatal Attractions. In one episode they had a few folks that had alligators. One woman swore those 'pets'(and I use that term loosely)Loved her!! She actually had a dog halter on them, and took them in her car, to go for rides, Seriously, this lady was wacked. She would let one out at a time and it roamed the house, Worse part about it was she had a young son and he also handled those gators. She then got another 'rescue' and the larger male knew it was there, holy crap, she would reprimand it when it would almost bite her.
Only a matter of time. Look it up.Wait I found it, oh my is she nuts???No offense to those that love them,I think they are fascinating but she is just asking for it.

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/fatal-attractions-my-pet-crocodile.html

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Yeah, some people are very delusional in how they perceive animal behavior. I cringe when I hear someone tell me "Oh, my burmese python LOOOOVVEES me. I let him sleep in the bed with every night!"

And the fact that Animal (Rights) Planet eats this kind of stuff doesn't help the reptile community as a whole one iota.

 

[tortadise]

What an awesome picture!!!
I saw a show on Animal planet last year, called Fatal Attractions. In one episode they had a few folks that had alligators. One woman swore those 'pets'(and I use that term loosely)Loved her!! She actually had a dog halter on them, and took them in her car, to go for rides, Seriously, this lady was wacked. She would let one out at a time and it roamed the house, Worse part about it was she had a young son and he also handled those gators. She then got another 'rescue' and the larger male knew it was there, holy crap, she would reprimand it when it would almost bite her.
Only a matter of time. Look it up.Wait I found it, oh my is she nuts???No offense to those that love them,I think they are fascinating but she is just asking for it.

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/fatal-attractions-my-pet-crocodile.html

When I was writing my reply that show came to mind. It's not for everybody. If your going to take the risk of owning a wild and potentially dangerous animal it should be noted that you "know" what your getting into. I love that show. The lady with te gaboon viper that was her "friend" and let him have the roam of the house. Nuts. It's people like that in which allow politicians to pass strict laws on exotics of all kinds.

 

[jaizei]

I don't know if I could ever trust a crocodile like this but this is another interesting story about a 'pet' crocodile.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...enjoys-giving-dangerous-companion-cuddle.html


[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMk_96I-Mzc[/video]

 

[Kerryann]

It was a plastic alligator on the show... Whew
I love my animals but it amazes me the risks people take.