American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Short answers

American alligator: How big does the enclosure need to be?

About 900 × 500 × 150 cm for a pair — 15 m² of land and 30 m² of water, at least 120 cm deep. Add 2 m² of land and 6 m² of water per further animal. Only feasible in private hands in exceptional cases.

American alligator: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–32 °C, basking spot Locally up to 40 °C under the heat lamp above the land section, at night Overwintering at 16–18 °C is possible.

American alligator: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Required (UV-A and UV-B); 10–12 hours of lighting in total.

American alligator: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: Several decades; large animals over 60 years.

American alligator: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–32 °C

Night temperature

Overwintering at 16–18 °C is possible

Basking spot

Locally up to 40 °C under the heat lamp above the land section

UVB

Required (UV-A and UV-B); 10–12 hours of lighting in total

Enclosure

Minimum size

About 900 × 500 × 150 cm for a pair — 15 m² of land and 30 m² of water, at least 120 cm deep. Add 2 m² of land and 6 m² of water per further animal. Only feasible in private hands in exceptional cases.

Substrate

Soil, peat, bark mulch, sand or fine rounded gravel. Rounded pebbles must be within reach as gastroliths.

Feeding

Food

Rodents, poultry and chicks, fish, mussels, snails, turtles, snakes and eggs, plus insects; fish or meat dusted with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

Adults once a week; juveniles daily with 1–2 fasting days

Key facts

Adult size

Males ~350 cm on average, exceptionally over 450 cm

Life expectancy

Several decades; large animals over 60 years

Origin

South-eastern USA — fresh, brackish and salt water swamps, lakes, rivers, weedy ponds and ditches

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B; must be reported to the German authority, proof of origin required

Brumation

Overwintering from October to February or March at 16–18 °C is possible and advisable for successful breeding, but not a requirement

Cohabitation

Single keeping is the lower-stress option. In pairs or groups (one male to three females) only in a very large enclosure with visual barriers, several feeding sites and a way to separate animals; the drawback is fighting and injuries where space or retreat is lacking.

Notes

LEGAL: In Germany crocodilians count as dangerous animals. Keeping them is governed by each federal state — several ban it in private hands, the rest require a permit. Settle this with the responsible authority before acquiring an animal, not after. On top of that come species protection law (CITES / EU Regulation 338/97), a duty to notify the nature conservation authority and, for many species, mandatory microchipping. Proof of expertise is required. DANGER: Even the small species can inflict serious injuries. The enclosure must be escape-proof, digging out must be impossible, and there must be a way to separate animals safely. ROOM FOR A LIFETIME: Crocodilians live for decades. An animal that has outgrown its enclosure is next to impossible to rehome — the enclosure has to be big enough for the adult animal from the start. Reptoria does not broker crocodilians. This page is for information only.

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Related species

• Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) – Expert
• Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) – Expert
• Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) – Expert
• Schneider's smooth-fronted caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) – Expert
• African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (About 900 × 500 × 150 cm for a pair — 15 m² of land and 30 m² of water, at least 120 cm deep. Add 2 m² of land and 6 m² of water per further animal. Only feasible in private hands in exceptional cases.), substrate (Soil, peat, bark mulch, sand or fine rounded gravel. Rounded pebbles must be within reach as gastroliths.), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.