# are alligators smart **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057 "2013-03-26T23:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/21 "2013-03-27T09:09:25Z")
But if you keep feeding it junk food until it’s severely overweight and lazy, would that make it harmless to humans? I mean overweight to the point of being hardly able to move, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/22 "2013-03-27T09:59:16Z")
I went to an alligator farm and show in Florida and the trainer said, alligators are very lazy and when you get them accustomed to being fed daily, without any work, they will be _appear_ to be quite docile. Appear being the key word here. He said the American crocodile is vastly different and much more aggressive and is never to be trusted at all. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/23 "2013-03-27T13:03:30Z")
Having an alligator for a pet? Tame stuff. For real excitement, [try domesticating a hyena](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1312606/Rescued-hyena-Odi-enjoys-better-good-bath.html) (based on the reputation of these animals, the accompanying photos will make your hair stand on end). ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/24 "2013-03-27T13:50:25Z")
Where do you live? If it’s not in the deep South, an alligator wouldn’t survive a cold winter. Also, I hope there won’t be any small children hanging around by this pond. Because gators tend to view them as snacks. Normal diet for an alligator: birds, turtles, fish, whatever they can snap their jaws on. I’ve seen gator shows throw in whole raw chickens. Unless this pond is huge and has an abundance of wildlife, I would think feeding such a critter would get quite expensive. Also, please realize that a small gator is just a baby gator. There is no such thing as a miniature variety. Gators can grow to be up to 12-16 feet. Good luck with all that. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/25 "2013-03-27T18:03:14Z")
On the other hand, [cats don’t take much shit from alligators.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_29k6dJ6DA) ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/26 "2013-03-27T18:16:29Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > On the other hand, [cats don’t take much shit from alligators.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_29k6dJ6DA) More cats telling crocodilians, “Lizard, please!”: https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvy9o9uJ0jM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque https://www.youtube.com/embed/yF33e7JCLx8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque https://www.youtube.com/embed/NCoxNJWLJTo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/27 "2013-03-27T19:00:47Z")
I’ll bet you could train one to beat a lion! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/28 "2013-03-27T19:04:45Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I’ll bet you could train one to beat a lion! If there is one thing I have learned here, it is that nothing can beat a lion in a fight. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/29 "2013-03-28T15:09:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Dude sure seems gator-drawn. Did anyone else hear this in Larry the Cable Guy’s voice? ---
**Author:** ![LouLou7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LouLou7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouLou7)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/30 "2013-03-29T01:23:22Z")
If you are going to try to make an alligator into a pet, I have a couple of suggestions to maximize your chances of success: 1. Alligators are used to warm, humid conditions. If you are going to keep him in the house, you’ll need to go to the pet store and buy him some of those nice, argyle type sweaters to keep him warm in the air conditioning. Perhaps some shoes to keep his feet nice and toasty (Alligator shoes - HA!!) 2. You’ll want to housebreak him as quickly as possible. Keep a rolled up newspaper on hand, and if you catch him piddling on the carpets, smack him on the nose smartly and tell him “NO!”. Then put him in the litter box so he’ll know the proper place to eliminate (Depending on his size, you’ll need a sandbox size litter box, I’m guessing). 3. In order to keep him from chewing the furniture, you’ll want to spritz him in the face with a water spritzer. This worked wonders to keep my cats from scraching the sofa. If he doesn’t react to a water spritzer, might want to keep a regular garden hose hooked up to the kitchen sink and power spray him as necessary. 4. This is very exciting, and I’m hoping you will come back and keep us informed on how the alligator-to-pet experiment is going. If by some unfortunate accident your hands and arms get chewed off, please make sure you have a friend who can post your updates for us. Best of luck to you and your new pet!!! LouLou ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/31 "2013-03-29T01:52:58Z")
OP obviously needs aid. \ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/32 "2013-03-29T08:29:05Z")
Their intelligence tends to exceed that of their owner. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/34 "2013-03-30T11:03:58Z")
[This one](http://protagonist.wikia.com/wiki/Wally_Gator)’s very smart! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/35 "2013-03-30T11:45:31Z")
> [@e.fred](#): > > I am thinking of taking a small alligator from the swamp and put it in my uncles pond. I think you should disregard the nay-sayers in this thread, and go for it. Please post pics of your Uncle’s injuries. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/36 "2013-03-30T11:46:57Z")
I’m thinking about adopting a hippopotamus, btw. Should fit in the bath, I think. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/37 "2013-03-30T12:47:17Z")
I think I have developed psychic powers. I read OPs like this one and can intuit the join date. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/38 "2013-03-30T13:08:41Z")
As a kid I had a couple of gators, one grew to 4 ft and then I traded him for a tortoise. He became somewhat docile and seemed to recognize me as a source of food but that’s about it. They do appear somewhat smarter than a snake I would say. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/39 "2013-03-30T13:13:54Z")
you’re just biased against snakes… ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/40 "2013-03-30T13:50:59Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I’m thinking about adopting a hippopotamus, btw. Should fit in the bath, I think. Are you prepared for [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeCOfNWjJUs&feature=youtube_gdata_player)?\* (This is the standard method, BTW.) \*I think I have cited this vid before. In any case, I will continue to cite it whenever it seems appropriate, which could be quite quite often, come to think of it, but I will restrain myself. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057/41 "2013-03-30T14:58:29Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Are you prepared for [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeCOfNWjJUs&feature=youtube_gdata_player)?\* That is quite remarkable 😃 It’s a whole new level of farting, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-alligators-smart/654057.md?page=3)