Keeping crocodiles as pets

To keep your crocodile healthy you must give it the right food and water. 

In the wild, crocodiles eat insects, fish, small frogs, lizards, crustaceans and small mammals. 

In captivity, do not feed crocodiles chicken or beef only.

Food needs to be chopped to a size that is easy to eat.

Live food, such as fish and insects, can be placed in the water to encourage the crocodile to hunt.

New crocodiles may not eat when first put in the enclosure. They should begin eating with the right temperature and low stress conditions.

Crocodiles eat stones in the wild to help with digestion. They will eat them in captivity if stones are in the enclosure. 

You do not need to offer stones as part of the crocodile's diet, as they will eat them if needed.

Uneaten food needs to be removed within 24 hours to stop it decomposing.

Feeding young crocodiles

Young crocodiles need to be fed once or three times per week. 

The food should weigh around 5% of their body weight. 

You can add vitamin supplements to their diets for more benefit. This is not as important if the crocodile is receiving whole prey.