File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
My friend has a pet gator that I've long wanted and since he is moving and has to get rid of it guess what that means!!

I get to have the coolest pet in the world. Right now I'm working on building an enclosure to keep him in but its not looking like I'm going to have it finished before he moves so I'll have to keep it in our upstairs bathtub for a few days. It shouldnt be too bad, theres plent of room for him to soak and its only temporary. Its not easy fencing in a part of your yard and digging a pit. But I figure if I get it big enough for him now then I'll have plent of time to enlarge it later. Plus that gives me one on one time to train it. It already knows a few tricks like jumping with its tail.

Just thought I'd share.
>> Anonymous
>>261855
Yeah. Its just like a dog.
Only it isn't a mammal, is cold blooded, needs regulated water temperature, can live over fifty years, adult males can get over 12 ft long, fuck. i can just go on.
>> Anonymous
So...you want to own an alligator? Did your son see one at the pet store? Are you a fan of the Australian guy on the television? Perhaps you are an experienced reptile owner who wants something more. In any event you may get in just a little over your head. Of the two-hundred million pets living in the United States only eight million are reptiles. Of that eight million how many are alligators? Almost none. The idea of domestic alligators is so new that there exists almost no body of common knowledge on the subject. This causes the owners to invariably give up the animal because they were totally unprepared. Do you want to be one of the alligator owners who gets bitten, destroys the animal, or has their house destroyed by the animal?

Let's go over the basics first. Of the many crocodilians available, caimans and alligators are the two most common in the pet trade. What is a caiman you ask? It is the closest thing to an alligator, indigenous to South America, and generally a bit smaller than its cousin to the north. Together they make up the family alligatorinae, so caimans and alligators are truly separate from other crocodilians. Alligators themselves are indigenous only to the southern United States and parts of China. You will know these reptiles by the wider head and jaws, darker coloring, and the fact that their lower teeth are concealed by the top of their mouths.
>> Anonymous
As a general rule you can expect caimans to grow to a length of six to seven feet; alligators can be expected to reach twelve to thirteen feet in length. Persons selling crocodilians as pets will most likely lower these numbers in the hopes of getting a sale--don’t be fooled. Males are the larger sex, so if size is an issue try to get a female. You may also find that “dwarf” caimans are advertised. While they are on the smaller side, again, don’t let someone swindle you. A four to five foot dwarf is more than enough reptile.

Now that we know what alligators and caimans are we will discuss attitude in both the animal and the owner. Can these reptiles be tamed? The real question is: do you have the wherewithal to try? Let’s get something straight as pet owners, sightseers, and concerned citizens. Alligators are not loving, tender, or particularly good-natured when it comes to humans. We are mammals, we are weaker, we are usually smaller, and we aren’t nearly as fast, and any one of those conditions puts us in the “food” category. But don’t abandon all hope yet. Through diligent effort, in theory, any alligator owner can tame (or at least mildly calm) their pets. This entails lengthy physical contact on a daily basis for years on end. You will more than likely reduce its fear of you as a predator, thereby reducing stress for the animal in the long run. These activities should be engaged from the outset when the animal is as young as possible. Even after all that effort you still have to be careful. Your pet will always have the feeding instinct lingering.
>> Anonymous
Remember biology class lectures about the “reptilian” portion of the brain being the most primal? They weren’t lying. In terms of mood you may be used to buying dogs or cats that are, worst case scenario, anywhere from bratty to bully. In a crocodilian this could translate into, over time or immediately, horrid to murderous. This is not something to get into if you have the savior syndrome. If you want a fixer-upper buy an old house. Having said all of that, it is true that alligators and caimans are considered the most docile of crocodilians and many owners have long and productive relationships with them. You just need to know what you are getting into in advance. These are not lap pets!

That is why you will have to consult local laws before proceeding further. This is a complicated matter as the situation is literally different everywhere. In the United States no national law exists covering the issue. State and county laws may have differing views, and in some areas laws directly contradict each other, such as ownership being legal but selling being illegal. Some states simply do all they can to keep citizens from buying alligators while others don’t view it as a problem. Quite often there are permit issues involved. Without obtaining a permit you are facing misdemeanor charges and the possibility of having your animal destroyed by the authorities. Your local wildlife office should be able to guide you through the web of red tape.
>> Anonymous
One of the most basic aspects to consider is the animal’s general demeanor. If you are a stranger picking up and restraining an alligator or caiman, it will try fairly hard to free itself. At the very least it should be extremely alert, even if it is calm (again there is a range in attitude from the beginning). If the reptile is lethargic or makes no noises you have every right to be suspicious. On the other hand, if all is well you may have just found your next pet. As a general rule, if a seller confides to you that they have been training this animal to attack, maim, or kill you should withdraw from the deal. Not only is this illegal but you are only asking for trouble as this animal may not be able to make a distinction between you and those animals (or persons) it is “supposed” to attack. Once you settle on a price and determine the overall health of the animal you are almost ready. You should have a habitat in place when the alligator comes home.
>> Anonymous
Make the bathtub its permanent dwelling place. Don't tell anybody from your family about this. Especially, those members of your family who you don't like.
>> Anonymous
>>261915
and feed it stray cats
>> Anonymous
>>261915
Feed it stray dogs.
>> Anonymous
btw...troll
>> Anonymous
>>261926
>>261925
lol same thought
>> Anonymous
Oh boy a giant ornery creature with a mouth full of huge teeth and a tiny simple brain that thinks only of food, basking and fucking. It even gets big enough to easily kill a man. Perfect pet amirite?
>> Anonymous
holy fuck it's just a caiman. Who gives a shit.

OP have fun having a caiman until it dies or it attacks you maybe.
>> Anonymous
>>262116
>it attacks you maybe.

Here's hoping.
>> Anonymous
jeez /an/ seems to have gotton its panties up in a bunch today, if this guy knows how to look after an alligator, and he can keep it alive, then what the hell is the problem.
if its not cruel to lock up birds, rodents, reptiles etc, then i dont really see why an alligator should make a difference. ive seen people keeping tigers as pets, if they can survive that i think keeping one of these guys should be childs-play.
>> Anonymous
...I actually bothered to read this thread and fucking lol'd at how fucktarded OP is.
>> Anonymous
I heard that crocodile meat was delicious.
Besides, what's the point of having a pet that hates you anyways?

Eat the meat.
>> Anonymous
>>262121
why the hell does everyone think that just because you can keep it alive, that also means thats its happy and generally well taken care of?