How To Care For An American Alligator In A Reptile Tank

American Alligator is most commonly known as a ‘Gator’. It is mostly found in the south east United States. American alligator is one of the biggest alligator. Gator has a large body which is round in shape with thicker limbs, big head and a good tail.

Proper planning is very essential when we keep an American alligator in a reptile tank. Proper planning will result in proper growth of the gator. The gators are the strongest reptile and have a very fast speed in water and land as well.

The gator kills the fishes in the tank. It never eats them. This action of a gator will lead to make the water dirty always. The water in the tank should be cleaned at least once in 2 days. American gator is aggressive in nature. It does not allow any one to come near to them.

How to care for an American Alligator in a reptile tank

1. Tank requirement/Enclosures : Generally the body parts of an American alligator grow in different sizes, especially the head of gator. An American alligator requires a large amount of space in the tank since they stay in water for a long period of time.
   The area of a reptile tank should be at least of 55 gallons to allow him to grow in a proper manner. The growth of the younger American alligator depends on the size of the tank. The length of the gallon should be three times the size of the gator.
2. Temperature in reptile tank: Temperature of water in the reptile tank must be around 82°F to 84°F. Basking the temperature of the reptile tank must be 93-97°F. American alligators mostly prefer warmer water.
   Gator is exothermic so it needs to be taken care. Like other reptiles alligators also store energy. When their body gets too heated they again step down into the water. Gators are adaptive to common temperature changes. Some times the slightest change in temperature results in health problems or even death. The temperature of water in the reptile tank should be kept steady. To keep the temperature steady you can use external heater. This external heater with thermostat is best to use.
3. Lighting in reptile tank : Depending on the season gator requires a specific amount of light per day. Using an Automated timer will result in proving consistent lighting. Tips of lighting to be provided in tank are: Spring: 10 to 12 hrs Summer: 12 to 14 hrs Fall: 8 to 10 hrs Winter: 8 to 9rs You can use UVA or UVB lights positioned directly over a target of land area to create a basking environment for gator.
4. Filtration of reptile tank : Purchasing an external filter for the size of your enclosure /tank will be best. The gator makes a mess in the reptile tank, so the normal size tank would not be preferable.
5. Feeding of gator : American alligators are carnivorous. They prefer to have a diet of whole pinkies, crickets, rat or rabbits. The baby gator will prefer to feed on gold fish, minnows, crayfish or any other small fish.
6. Decoration used in reptile tank: The decoration used in the reptile tank must not be toxic. It should be well grounded at the bottom of tank. The gator will eventually try to mess with all the decorated things in the tank.

American alligators are very aggressive in nature. For the beginner it will not be easy to keep a Gator in a reptile tank. Keeping gator at home reptile tanks requires lot of planning as well as patience to handle them.