ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION OF ALLIGATOR EGGS AND POST HATCHING CULTURE IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBERS

ABSTRACT Operational procedures for environmental chambers and methods of handling alligator eggs were tested for three years to determine hatching. success and to evaluate mortality factors. Eggs were collected from nests produced by captive and wild alligators no earlier than three weeks after. laying and as late as five weeks. Hatching success was determined for fourteen variables. The overall hatching rates for artificially incubated alligator eggs were greater than that reported for wild nests. Post hatching mortality was negligible under artificial conditions, averting high losses which occur in pens and especially in the wild.