Saturday, April 25, 2015

Anyone Seeking A True Thrill Should Try Swim With Alligators

By Alta Alexander


Alligators are large carnivores and can become very aggressive when protecting their young. Becoming a victim of these animals can be avoided as one just needs to understand their behavior. Having a swim with alligators is becoming more and more popular while at the same time the need to show respect to these predators is very important.

The average adult alligator can reach up to four metres sometimes fourteen feet and can weight anything from three hundred and sixty kilograms to about four hundred and fifty. The biggest one that was stumbled across was over nineteen feet and resided in Louisiana. The smallest one is just over one metre and is the Cuvier's dwarf caiman. They only weigh about seven kilograms or fifteen pounds.

A respectable distance should be about sixty feet and if they begin to hiss and also lunge towards one it is their way of saying that the distance is too close. They might seem slow but they are very powerful and can move very fast over short distances. Many people say that not running in a straight line is better, but this is not true as they run in straight lines and cannot keep up the speed for long periods of time.

If ever one comes across one crossing a road do not attempt to move it. It will eventually move along by itself so just be patient. They generally move around during the breeding seasons which are summer and spring. Also never throw anything at them as this can cause injuring or even killing them and it is punishable by a big fine or days spent behind bars.

The most popular specie to be kept captive was the Caiman crocodile but has now been taken over by the Dwarf caimans. They do not grow to be very large and seem to be more available. Their natural habitat is along the Amazon River in South America. They are more nocturnal and will spend their days hiding out in burrows.

The quickest and easiest way to distinguish between the crocodile and the alligator is the shape of their noses. The alligators will have a very distinct rounded shape very much like a shovel and the crocodiles have more of a "V" shape to them. The broader nose is specially designed for extra strength and can apply massive force. This is to enable them to snack on any hard shelled invertebrates as well as turtles.

Alligators many years ago were nearly never seen but lately in Florida they seem to be everywhere. Many people are afraid to let their dogs and cats out to explore as they might just become the next meal. They were few and far between when they were allowed to be hunted but now there is a law to protect these creatures.

The babies seem to prefer smaller areas as it helps them to feel secure but as they grow larger bigger enclosures are a must. There should be some rocks and plants in the area where they will soak up the sun or a light bulb. The temperature should be around ninety five degrees Fahrenheit and if there is water it needs to be changed weekly.




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