My New Hat!

[swreefer]

Gators are perfectly legal to sell as pets in Florida.
As a matter of fact, most of the petstore ones across the country come from the gator farms in Florida.

These cannot be tamed but they can be trained to associate feeding with certain triggers so they do not always associate people with food. Same as hook training retics. Start young with retics and condition them that when they see and feel the hook, it is maintenance or moving time when the cage is opened. When there is no hook and the cage is opened, they know food is coming. Really quite fascinating how they react to the hook versus when it is not there.

Gators just command respect as they grow and ever increasing living quarters to be able to keep them long term.

 

[Tyler718]

Gators are perfectly legal to sell as pets in Florida.
As a matter of fact, most of the petstore ones across the country come from the gator farms in Florida.

They are legal with permits, but the average person can't keep them.

Florida Laws

It is unlawful for a person to possess any Class I Wildlife unless the animal was in possession prior to August 1, 1980. Class I Wildlife includes, but is not limited to the following: chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, baboons, leopards, jaguars, tigers, lions, bears, elephants, crocodiles, etc. Persons may possess Class II Wildlife if he or she obtains a permit from the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Class II Wildlife includes, but is not limited to the following: howler and guereza monkeys, macaques, cougars, bobcats, cheetahs, ocelots, servals, coyotes, wolves, hyenas, alligators, etc. All other wildlife in personal possession not defined as Class I or II Wildlife must obtain a no-cost permit. In addition, FL has promulgated regulations governing possession of Class II and III animals (caging requirements, etc.).

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I know that selling them here in Florida to anyone but a licensed farmer is totally illegal. Their is no such thing as an exhibitor licence anymore either. They used to have travelling gator shows but that was completely shut down a few years ago. Alligators can however be sold out of state!! I guess you would just have to take the transaction over the Florida border.

(8) Transfer of alligator eggs and live, untagged alligators from alligator farms:

(a) Alligator eggs and live, untagged alligators may be sold and may be transferred but only to other licensed alligator farms; to exhibitors licensed pursuant to s. 372.921, F.S.; to persons permitted to receive such eggs or alligators; or to persons out of state.

(b) The transfer of any alligator egg or live, untagged alligator from an alligator farm premises shall be documented on a Captive Alligator and Egg Transportation/Transfer Document (FWC Form 1006AF, effective April 30, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference and may be obtained at the Commission's Tallahassee office). The originating farm permittee shall complete and sign the Captive Alligator and Egg Transportation/Transfer Document before the transfer, obtain the signature of the recipient on the document, and forward the document to the Commission's Division of Law Enforcement, Tallahassee office, within 30 days following the date of transfer. A copy of the completed document must accompany the alligators or alligator eggs during transport.

 

[swreefer]

average person can't keep them

True. Same thing goes for people in Florida who keep venemous animals. They have a strict licensing requirement.

How can they do away with an exhibitor license? Those are not issued by states. They are a federally issued permit. Same goes for the federal permit I had to obtain to purchase an Indigo snake. These are USDA permits. Not state permits. Florida must have just banned the shows itself.

Some federal permits are not too difficult to obtain, one took an application and a $25 license fee. The other was more difficult (the exhibitor) that took 2 years of training that had to be verifiable under an already licensed individual and was much more expensive. They also had to inspect the enclosures and the protocol put in place in the event of an accident, and approve them, and you have to allow them unrestricted surprise inspections. I believe the Florida venemous permit has even stricter requirements than the exhibitor permit.

Basically, if you want to take on the enormous challenge of caring for an animal that could be dangerous, you SHOULD have to prove you are capable of keeping the animal safe, yourself safe, and other people safe.

 

[swreefer]

I want to see the same pose next year!!

Not gonna happen. They can only be handled like this when they are very young.

 

[Tyler718]

Not gonna happen. They can only be handled like this when they are very young.

Maybe we'll see the photo the other way around. You on his head.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Steve,

I'n not sure how that works with the licenses. I now for a fact that there's none of the traveling shows anymore. I also know for sure that the guys that do the big rep/herp show at the fairgounds can't keep/buy/sell or probably even talk about gators either. They can't even display venomous snakes inside the show and they all have whatever Florida license or permit is required to keep them. All that business is done in the parking lot If I'm not mistaken, there are new laws that might even go by county. What I've noticed lately is they lump the pitbull owners in the the venomous snake owners when all that "dangerous pet" legislation brought up on the news, etc. A few idiots always seem to ruin things for the responsable owners.

I've caught ones about the size of yours while fishing. They love surface lures. The little ones can bit like hell too!! The worse thing is they let out that low pitched cry that calls mamma!! Makes you do your best to unhook them and get them back in the water.

Tyler,

What I love to see gators do is their mating call. They stand up in shallow water and let out a huge bellow, their bellies vibrate wildly and the water just about boils up around them!!! It's really something to see on a quiet morning.

 

[swreefer]

The daytona show this summer had venemous for sale. It's the NRBC (national reptile breeders association) show. You would be surprised at what is allowed when "big name" breeders have it on their tables. LOL.

 

[stellablu]

Do you have a large enclosed area now or are you going to upgrade as he gets bigger?

I haven't seen an alligator in the wild for about six months, which in Florida and being by the water is quite rare. Incidentally, that last encounter was a 7-8 ft gator in the middle of 520 going to Orlando. I am sooooo thankful I saw him in time. There was nothing to do but watch and wait for him to pass...which he took time doing by the way. haha

I couldn't imagine preparing myself for a pet who grew that large and powerful. Crud, I'm even cautious about bringing a dog in the house knowing it has teeth

I normally would err on the topic of alligators as pets, but you seem to have the information and training (and common sense, more importantly) to house one. Best of luck! I'd love to see pictures of his habitat and age growth photos down the road

 

[swreefer]

He has a 3 foot commercial PVC enclosure (it's designed for use with venemous snakes so it is well secure and lockable so that no one can get into it without me there). Heat is provided by a 65 watt radiant heat panel to allow for thermal regulation and a basking spot. There is also a large heated swimming area as well as land for basking and to dry off on.
For lighting, I am using 6500K PC bulbs to provide UVB and UVA rays as well as supplementing his diet with calcium to prevent any chance of metabolic bone disease due to the use of artificial sunlight.
As he grows, the enclosure size will have to increase according to his needs.
Eventually, as he matures, he will have a dedicated 15'x 20' room for himself which should be completed just in time for his transfer to it (quite expensive customizing an area that size).