Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)

Short answers

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

About 400 × 250 × 150 cm for a pair — 3 m² of land and 7 m² of water, at least 50 cm deep. Add 1 m² of land and 2 m² of water per further animal.

Chinese 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 Winter rest at about 10 °C.

Chinese alligator: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Chinese alligator: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: Several decades.

Chinese alligator: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–32 °C

Night temperature

Winter rest at about 10 °C

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 400 × 250 × 150 cm for a pair — 3 m² of land and 7 m² of water, at least 50 cm deep. Add 1 m² of land and 2 m² of water per further animal.

Substrate

Soil, peat, bark mulch, sand or fine rounded gravel; rich structuring is needed. Rounded pebbles must be within reach as gastroliths.

Feeding

Food

Invertebrates (snails, mussels, crustaceans), fish, poultry chicks, rodents and other small mammals

Feeding interval

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

Key facts

Adult size

up to ~200 cm, ~160 cm on average

Life expectancy

Several decades

Origin

Lower Yangtze in China — slow-flowing rivers, lakes, ponds, grass swamps and floodplains

Protection status

CITES Appendix I / EU Annex A — commercial use prohibited, sale only with an EU certificate; must be reported and microchipped under German species protection law

Brumation

A winter rest from October to March at about 10 °C is mandatory and part of proper husbandry. Outdoor keeping in summer is recommended; year-round only with winter quarters held at 10 °C.

Cohabitation

Keep singly; pairs only where the animals can be separated, as this species can be highly intolerant.

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

• American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) – 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 Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (About 400 × 250 × 150 cm for a pair — 3 m² of land and 7 m² of water, at least 50 cm deep. Add 1 m² of land and 2 m² of water per further animal.), substrate (Soil, peat, bark mulch, sand or fine rounded gravel; rich structuring is needed. 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.