Albino Alligators

It all started while making plans for spring break. Some students go to Mexico and hang out on the beach, others up to the mountains, and we, well we decided to go to San Francisco for the arts and museums. It was while researching museums that we learned of the albino American alligator at the California Academy of Sciences. We had seen albino alligators at the Houston Zoo and the Charleston Aquarium and had been told that the third one in captivity was in San Francisco so we were excited to hit the trifecta!

As it turns out, there are way more than three albino Alligator mississippiensis in captivity, but it was still exciting. We got to meet Claude, who was front and center at the museum's entrance to their aquarium.

This image was taken from Claude the Albino Alligator of the California Academy of Science's Facebook page. More can be seen about Claude here. 

Now Claude (at the California Academy of Science) is a sexually mature 9.5 feet long and 18 years old, while his cousin (not actual cousin) Alabaster, here in Charleston is only a little over 8 feet and is about to turn 19.

Alabaster lives in the second largest tank at the South
Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC. More information
can be found about this good looking 'gator here.

Alabaster, Claude and all their albino alligator friends have few health problems outside of vision loss associated with hypersensitivity to light. In fact, the only reason albino alligators (an animals in general) don't do well in the wild is because of their decreased fitness associated with their loss of camouflage. This is a big deal for alligators that depend on the element of surprise to sneak up on their bigger prey! Because of this, albino alligator hatchlings usually will not live more than a day unless found and kept in captivity. Albinism (lacking melanin) is a recessive gene, meaning that is is very rare to find. Alligators lay clutches of eggs and about 1 in every 100,000 alligator eggs that hatch are albino, so Alabaster and Claude are a rare breed indeed.

Alabaster came to Charleston in 2010, and back then was only 7 feet long! Alabaster is fed rats, mice, chicks and food pellets that are placed on his rock island for him to feast on, though in true alligator style, he tends to pull the food into the water to eat it (classic Alabaster!). He live-in an 8,000 gallon fresh water tank that is protected from sunlight that could harm his sensitive skin.

This past June Alabaster was given a clean bill of health by the aquarium. Alligators can live upwards of 60 years in captivity, so everyone is hoping that this is just the beginning. Claude and Alabaster seem to like their man-made swamps and protection from the cruel cruel UV light of the outside world.

How do you feel about keeping these magnificent creatures in captivity? Do you think we are doing enough for albino alligator conservation? Which alligator wears it better--Claude or Alabaster? Let me know your thoughts!