HABITS:

Crocodiles inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers and swamps.

SPAWNING:

In Australia female crocodiles usually nest in June. Crocodiles mate about six weeks before nesting. They lay a clutch of 50 eggs in a 1m tall nest. They rely on solar radiation for hatching in the wild.

GROWTH:

Growth in the wild is very slow. A wild 12 year old female is about 2.3m in length and a 16 year old male is about 3.3m in length.

USES:

Crocodiles are harvested for their belly skins and meat. A 2.5 year old crocodile is usually large enough to make one ladies handbag. I could not find any information on yield.

CULTURE:

In Queensland, Australia, Hartley’s Creek Farm is a large producer and processor of crocodiles. They keep broodstock in mating pens, rob the eggs for the hatchery, and growout the animals. A 6 year old farm raised female is about 2.2m in length and a 7 year old male is 2.7m in length. The crocodiles are grown indoors in concrete pools where temperature is easily controlled.

REFERENCES:

http://www.hartleyscreek.com/how-it-works.htm