The result of the bite was eight internal stitches, 6 external stitches, a damaged nerve running to the index finger, permanent scarring and approximately $US600 in medical treatment." 

Still want a crocodilian for a pet? 

Perhaps you think a crocodilian can be tamed? Think again. Most people expect that regular handling will reduce their aggressive reptile into a placid lapdog, but they come away disappointed. While some species can become more tolerant than others, this often requires many years of hard work, and most realise that crocodilians are hands-off captives in the best interests of the crocodilian and the owner. 

By now, you should be in no doubt that crocodilians do not make good pets for the majority of people. However, with suitable experience, the right equipment, enough space and money to set up an appropriate enclosure, plenty of determination and the right attitude, crocodilians can be very rewarding to keep - just as long as you know what to expect. For most people reading this manual, only a small handful of species would be considered suitable for captivity. 
 

How old do you have to be to keep a crocodilian? 

This will be tough for some readers to accept, but it is good advice: crocodilians are not for kids. Often those who are most enthusiastic about keeping crocodilians tend to be younger, typically still in their teens. However, given the general unsuitability of crocodilians as "pets" and the experience required to keep them, it is strongly recommended that you are in stable financial position, have longterm facilities available, are physically capable of dealing with very strong and boisterous reptiles, and that you have several years of experience with larger reptiles. Yes it's true, anyone can keep a hatchling alligator or crocodile easily. But they don't stay that way for long. Most teenagers live in times of great change, and their ability to keep a crocodile now may not be the same in a few years. Think very carefully about your future plans, otherwise you will have several feet of very large reptile to try and get rid of when nobody wants it. 

Which crocodilian species make the best captives? 

For many years the spectacled caiman, Caiman crocodilus, has been the most popular crocodilian found in the pet trade. This has recently changed with the increased availability of better alternative species, and changes in the law that restrict ownership of Caiman crocodilus in the US. 

Dwarf caimans (Paleosuchus spp.) have taken over as the most popular species on account of their easy availability and small adult sizes. The African dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis, is also attracting more attention due to its size, although in temperament it is only for experienced keepers. American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, remain widely available but their suitability is questionable due to their very large adult sizes. Without doubt, accommodation is the number one problem with keeping crocodilians in captivity and hence dictates which species are better than others. 

A brief discussion of the most common species available in captivity follows. Despite their differences, most species have very similar requirements in captivity after their size and growth rates have been accounted for.