how did you come to that conclusion? is it just a feeling or do you have a specific memory or association tying the alligators to your family?
since the symbol is recurring, im wondering if it could be more archetypal or more abstract.

And now that i've looked at it again, i think the dish may also have some significance. the small lizards were on the plate, so it could signify that they are being metaphorically consumed by you, or maybe being offered to you for consumption.

-- follow these steps. you dont have to post here if you dont want to, but associations may help out with the interpretation.

1. write down all the symbols from your dream and write your associations for each symbol in a cloud around the word. eg if I dreamed about the sun, I would write out 'Sun' and in a cloud around the word would write what I associate with the sun (warmth, fire, Apollo, summer, daytime, light, time)

2. interpret the setting- Represents what the dream is about or what part of your mind the conflict is taking part in.

3, interpret the objects/characters- using your associations, try to determine what each character or object represents. sometimes this step comes easily, but sometimes it takes days or weeks to develop this enough. some symbols are very unique to you and tied to a certain memory, but some symbols are archetypal and are cultural. For example, an angel in a dream would mean similar things to most people who are christian or living in mostly christian countries, but dreaming about a specific object you own or person you know will have a very unique meaning to you. Some symbols are both archetypal and individual: maybe if your friend appears as an angel in your dream, both of those symbols become mixed.

4. interpret the story- This step may start forming as you do steps 2 & 3. Now that you understand the setting and its characters as symbols, what are the symbols doing and what does that say about the situation?