Alligators are carnivorous reptiles whose primary feeding time is at night. Small alligators will eat snails, frogs, insects, and small fish. Larger gators will eat fish, turtles, snakes, waterfowl, small mammals, and even smaller alligators. Examinations of alligators' stomachs have even found such objects as stones, sticks, cans, fishing lures and other assorted items. These objects are called gastroliths, or "stomach stones". Some researchers theorize that they may be used for ballast, or that they serve some purpose in digestion.
Alligators swallow their food whole. The teeth of an alligator are conical shaped and are made for grabbing and holding, not for cutting. When dealing with larger prey, an alligator may shake its head or spin its body in order to tear off a piece small enough to swallow. They have also been known to hold food in their mouth until it deteriorates to the point they can swallow it.
Alligators have a specialized valve in their throat called a glottis that enables the gator to capture its prey underwater. They can close their throats while their mouths are open. However, in order to swallow its food without getting water down its throat, an alligator must lift its head out of the water.
Feeding Time at Gatorland
These young alligators in the Gatorland® nursery are eating their prepared diet of ground red meat, chicken and vitamins. They are fed every several days.
In the wild, they would probably not get to eat such regular meals. Young alligators might go a long time between catching their meals of insects, small fish, frogs or carrion left over from the meals of larger alligators. At Gatorland® there is always enough to eat, and there is very little fighting over the plentiful food.