Man swims with 17 foot Crocodile

[Adam-Savage]

Ok I think this guy must either Crazy or pure suicidal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlz6iNw0Qes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6rC0lV67jA

Kissing the Croc

[Redith]

sounds fun

[zedxrgal]

I'd do it. But he lives day in and day out with that beastie. Very cool.

[Saturo]

*Waits for Veph and Mania*
You two are the crocodile-freak-duo, right? :D

[Vephriel]

/dies of jealousy

Wow, what a stunningly beautiful creature. Amazing videos! Gaaahhh I want a crocodile!!!!

[Saturo]

You should get one Veph. Then when it grows big you can release it into the sewers and go visit it every day! :P

[Vephriel]

Honestly, if I had the money and space (along with permission) to have a full croc enclosure I would own one in a heartbeat (along with many other herps I've always wanted).

[Saturo]

Silly reptile fangirl...

[VelkynKarma]

Much as I love reptiles, I have a hard time believing that guy is sane XD

~VelkynKarma

[Tygamoon]

Meh, people do crazy and dangerous things for the stuff they love. You have sky divers, mountain climbers and people who travel across the arctic. I don't think hes insane, just have lots of respect for him. Nice find hehe

[Adam-Savage]

Honestly, if I had the money and space (along with permission) to have a full croc enclosure I would own one in a heartbeat (along with many other herps I've always wanted).

Keep one to guard the house! Nobody would be insane enough to try rob someone with a full grown croc lurking around.

[zedxrgal]

You mean like these kids I used to have???????????
Female on the left, male right.


This was when they'd hit 2+ foot. The female I relocated to a breeding facility in another state when she hit almost 4 foot because she started getting really really pissy and rude.

The male I kept till he hit 5 foot and then relocated him. He was so sweet. He would sit on the couch with me and would cuddle. He was my love bug. Called him Elvis.

I'll see if I can find the other photos. Most were wiped out from a nasty computer virus just over a year ago.

[Vephriel]

Wow, how did you come by owning such amazing creatures? They're beautiful! ^^

[kamoodle5]

Over ten years ago, I came with some folks and my mom on the 4th of July and after the fireworks, we came to visit some guy's house. In one of the rooms there, he had an iguana that roamed freely, a three-foot long crocodile in a large aquarium tank, and a large water bed. It was nice. Only bad part about visiting that place that night was, well...everyone partied and got wasted, and I was quite embarrassed. Couldn't even sleep cuz it was so dang noisy but that water bed did feel comfy.

[rubybeam]

just wait we'll know mania will come out of hiding.....

[Mania]

Sorry, everyone -- I haven't had much time to be around lately. My ears were burning, however, so I knew someone was talking about me ...

Allow me to start by putting on my responsible reptile owner hat:

Never ever do this. No matter how well you know a reptile, no matter how gentle and 'domesticated' you may think they are, no matter how much you trust them and no matter what the bond between you and them - don't do this. Reptiles aren't domesticated, you don't fully understand them and you never can, and anyone can have a bad day - all it takes is a momentary slip and suddenly your beloved pet croc is being shot for accidentally killing you.

Having said that ... I've been in the position where I felt that I knew a particular reptile's behavior well enough - and I was willing to take the risk on myself if I made a mistake - that I relaxed my guard in a way that could have caused physical damage to me. You have the right to make choices for yourself, and I made the choice to trust what I knew about Gabriel's behavior.

With that out of the way: Awwwww! I love the way he rolls the big guy over and head-butts him. That's way cooler to me than the showy stuff like putting his head in the croc's mouth. (Gotta watch that tail, though - those tails are incredibly powerful.)

zedxrgal: Those are gorgeous! I'd love to see more pictures if you can find them. Is the undergravel filter in that tub doing its normal filter thing or is it for them to have purchase on the bottom or ... ?

[zedxrgal]

I dug up a few more photos but before I post them Mania is right. And as a 18 year veteran reptile keeper /breeder I should have done the proper thing and given my usual disclaimers and feelings on working with reptiles this closely. I've owned my fair share of huge pets but can count on one hand the animals who I was truly pair bonded with.
It's my understanding that this man and this crocodilian probably have that bonding. Pair bonding is just as it sounds with one exception in that it may not always be a same species bonding. Animals who mate for life (ie birds) pair bond. Some reptiles have been known to do it and some have been fortunate enough to create this bond with a human owner. I've honestly never been pair bonded with a female reptile of mine. But a few of my guys we so bonded to me they treat me as they would a female monitor lizard who they'd bonded with. Even aggressively guarding me against human males if they were around.
The two photos I'm about to show are of my 7.5 foot male Crocodile monitor. He was bonded with me and would only allow me to handle him.
DISCLAIMER: Do not, I repeat DO NOT ever attempt this!! This is DANGEROUS on so many levels if you're untrained and inexperienced and even if you are. Please do not do as I have done!


I only show this so that others may help see that the large reptiles can and do make great pets with an extremely experienced keeper whom THEY trust.

Now for what you've really want to see. This is the little female Gator out of the water. These are what I've been able to find so far. My friend was hold her so that I could take some photos.





These guy do not make great pets! I know it doesn't look like it but not all of them turn out sweet, kind or even handleable. They take A LOT work, a lot of time, a whole lot of money and space.

The grating at the bottom is actually an underwater heating element as alligators must have certain temperatures of water to survive and thrive.

They are so very cute though.

[Vephriel]

Thanks so much for sharing those photos, they're so awesome! What a gorgeous monitor.

I definitely agree with you both on the reptile subject of course. They're my absolute favourite creatures in the world and I've always had a strong affection for them, but they are certainly not like a mammal. In general they don't have the capacity to 'love' like a cat or a dog might. They tolerate you, they get used to you, and yes in some cases I do believe they can trust and have a bond of sorts with you, but they are highly unpredictable creatures and should never be underestimated. Every time I deal with my reptiles and spiders I mentally prepare myself for the chance of being bitten. Not because I fear them, and I certainly don't expect them to, but I know that it's a possibility and I never forget that. Being prepared allows me to not only freak out at a surprise attack, but also to ensure my animals are safe and aren't harmed by a sudden reflex. I've yet to ever be harmed by any sort of reptile, but I never let myself assume any kind of certain 'safety'.

I definitely will squee and personify something like a crocodile when speaking about one just for my sheer love of the creatures, but if I was ever blessed enough to have one I would never take for granted something like hugging or interacting. Reptiles are best seen and not handled in most cases, I just take thrill in owning and caring properly for these exquisite and fascinating creatures.

[Mania]

You bonded with a full-grown croc monitor? Okay, you are now both officially my hero and the person on earth I most envy. I've never had the privilege of interacting with a crocodile monitor personally, but I know a little about them - I am overawed.

He's gorgeous, by the way. I've always loved the way their heads and throats look so bulbous and silly, and then they've got those incredibly powerful long slim bodies.

And now you've made me miss my Gabriel so much ...

[Quin]

Wow, that is wild.

He says the croc was injured? I have to wonder if it was a head injury of some kind? I don't mean this as insulting to reptiles. That is certainly a magnificent animal, but I have to wonder if something isn't quite 'right' with the crocodile that it allows that kind of handling and treatment.

EDITED TO SAY: I will say the video really makes me want a croc pet, especially one of the awesome new skins coming in Cata.