Before every one accuses me of having him illegally, I DON'T. I bought him at an exotic pet auction in my state. I also did research on the laws and it is leagel in my state, there are no fedreal laws prohibiting it either. He seems to just be really tired, dragging himself in and out of the water very slowly. He is in a 50 gallon tank in our living room, yet when I'm sitting and watching tv I watch him also. And i see him breating rapidly when nobody is bothering him or even around him. For awhile he quit striking at me when i passed the tank but now he is doing it again , which I think is a good sign, but i still think he may be sick. Is there anything I can feed him or do for him to make him feel better?
2007-04-10 04:33:41 · 8 answers · asked by Kat 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
My husband bought the little guy so I'm stuck trying to do my best by the little gator(1 1/2 ft) His water is heated to 75 degree farihiet and he has a basking area at 95 degrees. He eats fresh slices of varying types of meat. He eats well. I also feed him vitaman enriched crickets but unsure on other vitamans and minerals he may need. The cricket vitimans i give him are for bearded dragons. ADVICE NEEDED!
2007-04-10 05:15:25 · update #1
Sounds like your temps are about right. Is s/he getting full spectrum lighting? How about "whole" foods? I know a lot of people don't like to, but your gator is a true predator, even if you get prekilled, s/he should really be getting whole rodents in it's diet, beardies have an omnivorous diet, so they get a good deal of nutrients from the veggies they eat, the only nonmeats that alligators and snakes get are in the gut of their food, crickets aren't enough, s/he can take a the -very- least a fuzzy, perhaps even a hopper or small adult mouse.
Young alligators are also easily stressed, the more activity around them that they are not used to, the more stress they are under, and I have seen young alligators die from nothing other than being overstressed. The earlier suggestion of moving him/her out of the living room is a good one, at least for the time being until it is a little more settled in.
Here's a link to a care sheet from a trustworthy source. Good luck, and sorry about jumping at the legality issue in your last post about your alligator, just something I do. Take care of him/her, and start thinking about your plans for it's future, what will do you when it's 5 or 6 or 8 or 10 feet long?
http://crocodilian.com/crocfaq/
2007-04-10 10:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reptiles are more sluggish than the average pet because they are cold blooded, maybe his water is too cold for him... Make sure the little guy has enough hiding places, he might was a respiratory infection. I would take him to the vet if he continues breathing rapidly. I am just wondering what are you going to do when he is Big those things can get over 15 ft in length?! I dout it would be happy even in a cage the size of your entire living room... you may want to place him with a zoo... (a close one so you can visit him)
2007-04-10 07:25:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like that You have him inside. DOes he have a hiding spot? They are shy creatures that can be handeled well up to their adult hood. There are ways to tame reptiles, it just takes calm persistance, and making sure you handel them safely (for you and them) . It will never be a house cat , but it will learn that you are not a bad thing to have around. I have handeled all sorts of big and small reptiles, and they are never domestic, but they see you as "provider" . Some pass that simplicity and become very emotional and attached pets. Introduce this pet to things one at a time. Start by putting his cage in a quiet area. Sit with him and talk to him and move slow. This takes a lot of time, but they will find sanctuary with you. When the animal is comfortable, introduce other people and things to him, slowly. If he stresses, remove the stressor. I have had it take months for a reptile to trust me, but it worth the work. reptileden0@lycos.com
2007-04-10 05:53:23 · answer #3 · answered by reptileden0 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't understand regarding the roof section however the dream interpretation handbook says: to be certain an alligator on your dream, symbolizes treachery, deceit, and hidden instincts. that's a sign which you would be able to take a clean perspective on a undertaking. it could additionally signify your ability to pass between the fabric worldwide of waking existence and the emotional, repressed worldwide of the subconscious. on the different hand, the alligator represents therapeutic powers and traits. that's slightly imprecise via itself yet once you think of approximately it perhaps you are able to decide what it ability to you.
2016-10-28 08:32:07 · answer #4 · answered by sherie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You want to make him feel better? Try not domesticating him. An alligator will never be a domestic animal. I'm not sure what you're thinking that you have a 50 gallon tank with an alligator in your livingroom. People fear pitbulls turning on them because it's in their blood.... an alligator will never be your friend and will always turn on you. If you want to make him feel better give him a real life. I wonder what you plan on doing with him once he's full grown?
2007-04-10 04:43:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I wish I could help! I don't know a thing about gator's except, that they scare me. Try calling the place you got it from. By the way, what are you going to do when it get's big? :)
Hope he get's better.
2007-04-10 04:44:20 · answer #6 · answered by georgia_girl_31 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i know that alligators tend to be cranky, do you have heated water in the tank? might be a little cool for him
2007-04-10 04:46:36 · answer #7 · answered by crissyrose19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-04-10 04:41:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋