where can i get an aligator?

Question

I have lots of reptiles and was wondering where the best place to get an aligator is?

Answer 1

First, contact your state wildlife commission or whatever your state calls it. Ask about the legality of owning an alligator and what requirements you must meet to own one.

Then, contact a zoo or alligator farm, or wait for a reptile expo to come to your area and purchase a CAPTIVE BRED alligator. Having a captive bred alligator increases your chances of having said alligator survive it's first year or so, and will not potentially take out the one wild alligator that is supposed to survive from it's nest to adulthood.

Now, before you do any of this, WHY do you want an alligator? If it's for being cool, forget it. Alligator's not the pet for you. They're not leopard geckos or bearded dragons that want to hang out with you and be your friend. Ever met a beardie that comes running at people's fingers trying to nip because it's been handfed? Gator will get that way too.... you gonna be able to handle that when it's 6-8 feet long? Where's it gonna live when it's that big? You ready to take care of it the rest of your life somehow? No? Talk to a local zoo when you get it then and set up something where when it outgrows what you can manage, they can take it, I know down here zoos have enough alligators and won't take them... you can sell them to a farm, but it's most likely just going to turn into luggage if you do that..... There's a lot of thought to put into this.

We own a few small alligators for educational programs for schools, scouts, etc, they're amazing animals, but take it from someone who's been around them for most of her life, they are NOT PETS.

Answer 2

you want a alligator!!!!!

Can I Have a Florida Alligator for a Pet?
Q: Are you allowed to buy alligators for pets in Florida? And if so, can you bring them across state lines? I am going to Orlando this summer and wanted one as a pet.

A: Whoa! Keeping an alligator as a pet is a very bad idea, my friend.

First of all, you cannot just buy an alligator in Florida to keep captive. Apparently, you used to be able to buy baby alligators at souvenir shops in Florida, but now alligators are protected and highly regulated. Anyone who keeps an alligator captive must have special licenses -- and must really know what he or she is doing!

And before you think about taking an alligator from the wild, you should be aware that's regulated, too. Removing alligators from their natural habitat is against state law. In fact, there are also state laws against harassing and feeding alligators.

Keeping an alligator as a pet may seem like an exotic and exciting thing to do, but a 3rd reason against your idea is that alligators just don't make good pets. They require a large wet habitat to live in and live prey to eat. They can be aggressive and dangerous at times. They can grow to 12 feet long and more. All these factors can make alligators hard to maintain as captive animals, especially away from their natural habitat.

Since originally answering this question, EcoFlorida has received several e-mail messages from people protesting this advice. All of them seem to be from people who have baby alligators telling us what a wonderful pet they have. But interestingly enough, they don't mention what they're going to do with the alligator once it grows to 4 feet or more.

Because we love wildlife (emphasis on the wild) and because we believe in the ethical treatment of all pets, we don't advise keeping an animal captive that you will later have to release. Releasing an alligator that has been held captive puts other people in jeopardy as the alligator comes into contact with people it happens upon -- because the alligator has become too used to people and lost its natural fear, increasing the chance of attack. Unless you are prepared to care for a non-domesticated animal for the rest of its life, then do a favor for the animal, yourself and the potential wild lands it would be released into -- and just don't do it. One person even indicated keeping an alligator in his/her house during the cold winter in a central state. This is a far cry from the subtropical wetland that alligators are intended to live in. We don't think living in a house is the best life for an alligator. Wildlife live the best life when they are allowed to live wild.

If you are truly interested in reptiles, why not learn about them and then purchase a lizard at your local pet store? You can always visit alligators in the wild at various natural areas throughout the southeastern states.

you are really CRAZY!!! why would you want an Alligator as a pet?

Answer 3

Hi Jessica,

Im not sure what country you are from, but im here in England (UK) and was looking on a Reptile site the other day and came accross an Aligator.

Here-i'll direct you to the site - and good luck x

http://www.ekmpowershop3.com/ekmps/shops/appletonexotic/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=121

Answer 4

kingsnake.com classifieds under crocodillians. You might want to try a dwarf caimen they will stay a little smaller but will still get to about 5-6 feet the web sight has care sheets as well. Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

aligator-nap one from the local zoo

Answer 6

I work in the Harrods pet shop and get phonecalls least once a week for alligators. WE DO NOT SELL THEM but we did 40 years ago.

Also had ppl ask for sugar gliders and spider monkeys

Answer 7

I just hope you are a responsible person and have the right conditions to keep it in. I actually hope you don,t get one. They shouldn't be kept in captivity! By the way Alligator is 2 ll's.

Answer 8

First check and see if possesion of an alligator is legal where you live. Then read this "care sheet"

http://crocodilian.com/crocfaq/...

Be sure to notice passages such as

2.2.2 How fast do crocodilians grow?

Compared with many other animals, crocodilians grow rapidly. Many species increase in length at least 20 to 30 times from hatchlings, and increase in weight by at least 1,000 times within 10 to 20 years. However, growth rate varies significantly between species, and also between individuals of each species. Key factors including temperature, frequency of feeding, quality of food and even social factors can result in major differences in growth rates and hence maximum size. Poor growth rates can often indicate problems with husbandry, but it is not so simple. Even a group of individuals kept in identical conditions will exhibit a certain degree of variation.

Despite this variation, all crocodilians show a fairly typical growth pattern: initial growth rates are rapid, often for several years, but slowly begin to decline as the animal matures. It takes many years for growth to cease entirely and many larger crocodilians appear to grow continuously over their lives, albeit very slowly in later life.

Larger species such as American alligators or saltwater crocodiles can initially grow at least a foot a year, and a few individuals can achieve sizes of nearly 4 feet after only 12 months.

3.1.1 Do caimans, alligators and crocodiles make good pets?

In a word, no.

Be quite clear - crocodilians are definitely not suitable for beginners, and they are not recommended even for intermediate-level hobbyists. If you have never owned a reptile before, then take this valuable piece of advice: do not consider purchasing a crocodilian, and instead look at species like skinks, geckos, agamids or small non-venomous snakes. This is not being patronising, because there are far easier and less expensive ways of learning to keep reptiles in captivity. Crocodilians should only be considered by very experienced individuals who have the resources to look after large, demanding reptiles that are difficult to house, difficult to handle, and increasingly expensive to keep.

Small juvenile crocodilians are deceptive - they seem easy enough to handle, and persuasive dealer talk can easily convince people to part with their cash. But do not be fooled. As they grow larger, crocodilians rapidly become stronger and more boisterous. After only a year, many people can no longer handle their animals and it is very common to see 1 to 2 year old animals being given away or illegally released into the wild. Larger crocodilians are, without a doubt, extremely dangerous animals. They are usually hostile, and most people underestimate just how fast and strong they can be - I've seen a 6 foot crocodile throw three adult men off its back. Crocodilians require skill and experience to handle, and larger animals often require a team of people to deal with safely. Failure to account for this means you risk coming away with very serious injuries. Even a small caiman can put you into hospital and scar you for life.


3.4 Is it possible to tame a caiman or other crocodilian?

In theory yes, it is possible to tame a crocodilian. However, it is exceedingly difficult, and most animals will only become moderately calm at best. Many people have tried to tame their animal, with limited success. The only crocodilians that I've seen which would be described as "tame" had been handled every single day of their lives for extended periods of time. Even then, the animal is still capable of inflicting a serious bite, and the feeding reflex of a crocodile can be very difficult to inhibit. Individual temperament varies a lot between animals, and some are certainly calmer than others. Some species also tend to be more docile than others, but all are capable of giving you a nasty bite when they're in no mood to be approached. Never buy any crocodilian on the pretence that you will be able to tame it - disappointment will probably be the most likely outcome, with only bite scars to remind you of your attempts.

The Number One Rule when dealing with any crocodilian is to never drop your guard and completely trust the animal. Always be aware of what it is capable of, and respect both its bite and its speed.



And to answer your question

http://www.gherp.com/gherp/pages/turtles...
http://markmlucas.com/crocodilians.htm...

Answer 9

o yea umm go to the site k its
www.aligatior.com/sale then u needa get a permite an its like 500

Answer 10

The Everglades - can you get a friend to video the capture ? - I am not keen on blood but may do well on My space.com ! - lol