Quick Take
- Chompers charged the pool the moment it started filling, and his reaction to being told "no" reveals something unexpected about living with an alligator. See Chompers' reaction →
- The pool couldn't just be any water, because a quirk of alligator biology made one specific type non-negotiable. Why freshwater only →
- Wild alligators hit a lifespan ceiling that captivity can shatter by decades, and the gap turns out to be bigger than almost anyone guesses. See the lifespan gap →
- Caring for 30+ exotic animals sounds chaotic, yet what Maxey built indoors for two rescue gators suggests a surprisingly methodical approach. Meet Maxey's setup →
The internet is full of unique ways that people care for their pets, including adorable clothes, cozy strollers, and special furniture designed just for pets. Well, how about an indoor pool for a pet alligator?
Pet Alligator Indoors
The YouTube clip at the top of this post shares a video of a pet alligator living in Idaho. The Corbin Maxey YouTube page posted this clip. Maxey cares for more than 30 exotic animals and loves his two rescue alligators named “Soni” and “Chompers,” according to his description. Let’s see what Chompers gets in the video!
Alligator Gets To Go Swimming
These two rescue alligators, Soni and Chompers, are lucky enough to have their own house. And what is a house without an indoor pool? Maxey built an indoor pool to give provide the gators with an opportunity to cool off.
This pool that Maxey has built for these rescues is freshwater. According to the National Science Foundation, “Unlike their relatives, the crocodiles, alligators don’t have salt glands and therefore can’t survive full-time in salt water. They move back and forth between marine and freshwater ecosystems to rebalance their salt levels and to feed.”
As the video starts, we see Maxey filling up the pool. Chompers crawls toward it eagerly, hoping it is a new play toy. We hear Maxey bark, “No, Chompers, no!” And the alligator immediately stops, like a respectful child listening to his parent.
As the pool fills, we see Chompers enjoying the running water cascading down its scales.
How Long Do Alligators Live in Captivity?
Alligators are carnivores that eat fish, turtles, and snakes.
©Orhan Cam/Shutterstock.com
Animals can either thrive or diminish in captivity, and it is vitally important to know what they need if you are rescuing an animal. The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) can be found throughout the southeastern United States, ranging from North Carolina and Florida westward through Texas.
It’s difficult to imagine an alligator weighing up to 800 pounds and reaching 15 feet in length having any predators that hunt them; however, they do. Animals such as birds, raccoons, bobcats, and even other gators will prey on alligators. Because of this, their lifespan is shortened in the wild.
According to the Idaho Falls Government, animals in captivity can live up to 20 years longer. Alligators usually live up to 50 years, whereas, in captivity, they can live up to 70 years or more.
So, as we can see from the video, Maxey and his team are taking care of these two rescue alligators well. These two should live very long lives and spend most of them using their indoor pool!
