alligators

To apply for a permit for an alligator farm in Florida, you must own or hold the lease to a minimum of how many acres of land?

5 acres

True or false: We should plant shrubs close to the entrance to an alligator enclosure so that the alligators can’t see the handler enter the pen at feeding time

false

True or false: Growth and appetite in alligators is lower when enclosure temperatures fall below 29°C

true

What are 2 challenges to raising alligators?

There may be a lack in health care available for alligators since vets are not typically trained in them and safety of handlers because alligators are wild animals (predators as well) being kept in captivity

True or false: Compared to raising traditional livestock, there are a lot of restrictions when it comes to raising alligators

true

How does John Price market products from his alligator farm?

half comes from the sale of live gators, meat, and products and the other half comes from field trips and tours

True or false: The greatest density of alligator farms in LA can be found in parishes along the Gulf of Mexico

true

True or false: Captive bred alligators require more space than wild caught alligators

false

Why should you think twice before starting an alligator farm?

alligator farming requires permits and has many regulations and the market for meat and hides is extremely volatile

Based on the USDA census data from 2013, alligator production in the US was valued at how much?

$62.5 million

True or false: The recommended minimum space for an alligator of any size is 2x its length in both width and depth of the enclosure

true

True or false: ponds for breeding alligators need to be deeper than ponds for growing alligators

true

What are two ways to maintain water quality in alligator enclosures?

changing water periodically and cleaning out uneaten food

Who is the owner of Insta-gator Ranch and Hatchery in LA?

John Price

If we consider pond construction, how can we reduce alligator stress in an enclosure?

making the pond an irregular shape which creates natural sight barriers and reduce stress in captive alligators and more space is better

What are 2 reasons why natural ponds are not recommended for use in alligator enclosures?

water quality and safety issues

Optimal growth in alligators occurs when temperature is around what degrees celsius?

31°C

What is the main food for alligators in the wild?

fish

True or false: Young alligators will eat every other day in their first few months of life

false

True or false: In Florida, breeding stock alligators must be at least 4 feet in length and maintained in indoor enclosures if you want to apply for a permit

false

What are 2 regulations that you must meet if you plan to raise alligators in Florida?

must own or have lease agreement on land (minimum of 5 acres) and must be 18 or older and have 1000 hours of experience

What is the optimal temperature to support growth in alligators?

31°C

True or false: alligators tend to eat more in summer than in winter

true

What are 3 good feeding management guidelines for feeding alligators?

feed enough to optimize growth, avoid overfeeding, and feed adults every other day

If we are going to breed alligators, why should we purchase captive bred breeding stock instead of capturing alligators from the wild?

more tolerant of captive conditions and more willing to breed

True or false: on average fertilized alligator eggs take about 65 days to hatch

true

Describe 2 ways to monitor the health of alligators raised on a farm

watch body condition and feed intake for signs of problems and make sure skin is bright and clean

Identify 2 different types of stress that affect alligators raised on a farm

captive stress (in older alligators when restrained) and social stress (from competition, lack of space, and feed aggression)