this is one of the two alligators we at the Iberville Parish Visitors Center feed and cared for thru the year 2013. He and the other were replaced after 11 months. This one grew 31 inches in 11 months and he was about 7 inches wide. Although alligators have a brain the size of a small pea, this one really had a knack for recognizing my stripe shirt when I went up to feed him. He would stand up tall and just stretch that cotton mouthed jaw and beg like a dog. he was so cute. Now we begin again with hatchlings. oh, and although we were supposed to keep him for 2 YEARS this big boy totally out grew his space. I was so sad to see him go.