View Full Version : Florida Gar
SinisterKisses
07-01-2005, 11:15 PM
Hey all...new here, and I'm just wondering what you can tell me about Florida Gars. My LFS has had one in for about a month and a half, if not longer, and every time I go in there and he's still there, I love him that much more. So any info you could provide would be fantastic...feeding, size, growth rate, water conditions, tankmates, temperment, etc, would be awesome. Thanx!
they may initially accept only live feeder fish but can be trained to eat other food like shrimp, worms, pellets, etc.
they grow big, probably over 2ft.
juveniles grow fast, but once they reach 12", the growth rate slows down considerably.
they pretty much tolerate all kinds of water conditions.
they do well with non aggressive tankmates that's not too small to be eaten.
they're not aggressive, but are voracious eaters.
SinisterKisses
07-02-2005, 12:49 AM
Well dammit, I dunno. I really really want this little guy...why do they have to get so damn big. :mad: He's very awesome.
piranha45
07-02-2005, 1:47 AM
awesome fish require awesome tanks...
Well dammit, I dunno. I really really want this little guy...why do they have to get so damn big. :mad: He's very awesome.
what can I say, it's a MONSTER! :)
They get much bigger than 2 foot. I have one over two foot now and he's just a pup. :)
SinisterKisses
07-02-2005, 12:30 PM
Hmm...Chad, how long did it take for yours to get that big? If I were to buy him now, at 7", and put him in a tank I have (probably a 55), would I have time to save for a bigger tank for him and upgrade, or did he grow rather quickly? What size tank do you have yours in, and what size tank do you plan on keeping him once he's full grown (if its not the one he's already in)?.
Awesome fish need awesome tanks, I know...but then I need an awesome raise :P
I bought him at 2 foot. :) Not sure how long it takes. Though, if you powerfeed these guys they can grow up to an inch a month, or more.
crazystereo
07-02-2005, 12:55 PM
What exactly does that mean, "powerfeed"? I think I know, but I just want to make sure we're on the same page here.
so I'm right, they do grow over 2 feet.
it takes a long time for a gar to grow 2 feet, and even longer to get OVER 2 feet.
SinisterKisses
07-02-2005, 1:22 PM
it takes a long time for a gar to grow 2 feet, and even longer to get OVER 2 feet.
So, do you think it would be okay for me to buy him now, and upgrade later? I should have time to save up for this swimming pool he's going to need? :)
piranha45
07-02-2005, 1:34 PM
how big is the gar right now? their growth rate is a good deal faster than spotted gars, which are the general gar-of-reference for most fishkeepers since its by far the most commonly availabe specie.
I really don't think it would safely be kept in a 55g if it was 4" now for 8 months, if even that. It'd likely hit a foot in SIX months, and a 55g is only 11" wide on the inside. Gars aren't eels by any means so I think that poses a serious problem.
of course, this is assuming the gar at the lfs really is a florida gar; higher chance its a spotted that's been mislabeled.
SinisterKisses
07-02-2005, 1:40 PM
Hmm...well, its already about 7". What's the easiest way to tell the difference between a florida gar, and a spotted gar? Maybe I'll go in and see if I can tell the difference...heck, maybe I'll convince them to let me take a pic of it, if they know I'm considering buying it. If it does turn out to be a spotted gar, what kind of difference would that make, in terms of growth rate and tank size, etc?
piranha45
07-02-2005, 1:49 PM
about 2/3s of that of a florida gar
it's almost impossible to know the difference. don't bother trying to figure it out, because the chances are, YOU CAN'T TELL.
the question is, WHEN, can you get a bigger tank?
I've kept about 5 different gars and honestly I don't think a 12" wide tank can hold the gar much longer than 4-5 months.
piranha45
07-02-2005, 1:54 PM
keep in mind 55g is 12" on the OUTSIDE, inside its more like 11"....
it prolly is a spotted gar anyway dude, and spotteds are common in lfses, don't freak about not getting this one, hold off till you get the tank to keep one first and then go looking for one; this will hardly be the last gar you'll see.
Yea, gars are fairly common, so you'll always have the chance to get one later on.
SinisterKisses
07-02-2005, 2:40 PM
Well, that's the thing...they are NOT common here, at all. Let me put it this way...this is the first time I've ever even seen one, in about 12 years of keeping fish. Oh well, guess I'll have to chalk it up to a lost cause. Thanks for all your help though.
based on what's listed in your signature, I don't think the gar will make a good tankmate anyway.
those cichlids will either get eaten OR the cichlids will beat the crap out of the gar.
Hmm...well, its already about 7". What's the easiest way to tell the difference between a florida gar, and a spotted gar? Maybe I'll go in and see if I can tell the difference...heck, maybe I'll convince them to let me take a pic of it, if they know I'm considering buying it. If it does turn out to be a spotted gar, what kind of difference would that make, in terms of growth rate and tank size, etc?
Florida gar have hanging chads.
E_americanus
07-02-2005, 5:56 PM
at 7" there is a good chance its a true Florida gar. i know you already decided to pass on the fish, but i figured i would contribute a bit to the thread as well (since i missed it!)
at 7" a Florida gar will generally have a longer snout than a spotted gar, their spotting is also different, but these diagnostics are so subtle that its hard to explain and even challenging to show in a photo.
as Chad said, the Floridas can get quite large...although in the wild a spotted gar will also reach a max of about 44". the one that Chad has is probably a few years old. its good to figure, as ming said, that any gar will grow to around 12" in its first year, some will grow much more. i bought an alligator gar at 4" last August and later shipped it to Chad, it isn't even a year old yet and the fish is TWO FEET long! the alligator gar, however, is also the fastest growing species of the gars.
a 55g tank is ok for a gar up until its about 8-9", and even that is pushing it. as P45 said, they aren't eels and need a lot of turning room. if a gar gets startled and hits the tank head on at full speed they will sometimes break their backs (which is fatal or so debilitating that they need to be euthanized).
hopefully that added a bit. sorry you had to pass on the gar as they are great fishes; in the future, however, if you get a larger tank you should definitely look into picking a gar up!--
--solomon
SinisterKisses
07-02-2005, 10:10 PM
based on what's listed in your signature, I don't think the gar will make a good tankmate anyway.
He'd have gotten his very own tank to himself, silly :P
Too bad, he's so cool.
piranha45
07-02-2005, 10:35 PM
I'm sure there's plenty of online fish distributors who would be happy to sell you a gar when you do get the tankspace..
SinisterKisses
07-03-2005, 12:50 AM
I avoid ordering online like the plague. The only reason I don't have a million more fish than I do now, is limited selection...if I start ordering online, that takes away my safety barrier ;) Besides, I don't know about other fish sites because all I keep and have looked into ordering are cichlids, but there aren't many in Canada that are worthwhile anyway.
There's a whole world out there outside of cichlids. :) Expand your horizons, you may be surprised at what you may find interesting.
SinisterKisses
07-03-2005, 1:40 AM
Ah, I'm completely a cichlid girl at heart. Occasionally I try something different, but within a month I'm trading them in at the fish store for more cichlids. That gar though...not something I would have gotten bored with.
buddah101
07-05-2005, 12:56 PM
at 7" there is a good chance its a true Florida gar. i know you already decided to pass on the fish, but i figured i would contribute a bit to the thread as well (since i missed it!)
at 7" a Florida gar will generally have a longer snout than a spotted gar, their spotting is also different, but these diagnostics are so subtle that its hard to explain and even challenging to show in a photo.
as Chad said, the Floridas can get quite large...although in the wild a spotted gar will also reach a max of about 44". the one that Chad has is probably a few years old. its good to figure, as ming said, that any gar will grow to around 12" in its first year, some will grow much more. i bought an alligator gar at 4" last August and later shipped it to Chad, it isn't even a year old yet and the fish is TWO FEET long! the alligator gar, however, is also the fastest growing species of the gars.
a 55g tank is ok for a gar up until its about 8-9", and even that is pushing it. as P45 said, they aren't eels and need a lot of turning room. if a gar gets startled and hits the tank head on at full speed they will sometimes break their backs (which is fatal or so debilitating that they need to be euthanized).
hopefully that added a bit. sorry you had to pass on the gar as they are great fishes; in the future, however, if you get a larger tank you should definitely look into picking a gar up!--
--solomon
Agreed indeed! I would suggest a gar to absolutely anyone who could properly house and mantain it. I was a little apprehensive at first, but after owning one I would have to say that "they are by far my most favorite fish of all time" as far as aggression and size goes. Absolutely a wonderful fish!
Sadly, I found out that in Pa. the Spotted Gar is illegal to own and is on the endangered species list, so I may not own one but I do have a Florida (wink ;) wink) Gar! I would like to breed these, with permission of course, and release them back into their natural habitat, but I doubt that ever happening because of beaurocrasy and the like. These are magnificent creatures and need to be treated with the utmost of respect and I wish whole heartedly the our local fisherman would not injure or kill these fish. I would love to educate the fisherman on this and possibly get an artical in the Pa. rules and guidelines to fishing.
evilfish
07-25-2005, 4:20 PM
what is its latin name???
Gar latin names:
Genus Atractosteus
Alligator - Atractosteus spatula
Cuban - Atractosteus tristoechus
Tropical - Atractosteus tropicus
Genus Lepisosteus
Florida - Lepisosteus platyrhincus
Longnose - Lepisosteus osseus
Shortnose - Lepisosteus platostomus
Spotted - Lepisosteus oculatus
Hope that helps. :)
STONEDFISH
07-25-2005, 10:26 PM
I have a Florida Gar in a 55 gallon. It's close to a foot long and seems to be fine swimming around my tank. I also have Firemouth cichlids, Dempseys and convicts in there and everyone gets along fine. The only thing I have noticed it sometimes his snout gets hung up on the heater if he turns around real quick. I'm moving up to 150+ gallon tank after I move next month. So you COULD get it if you think you won't see another one for awhile.........but the 55 won't be big enough for long. :drool:
Yep, agreed. And of the species I keep (tropical, longnose, shortnose and Florida - Cubans and spotteds coming soon :D), I have to say I think that my Florida is my favorite, they're great fish.
evilfish
08-02-2005, 8:46 AM
my longnose is my favourite. thanks that did help because i knew l.osseus coz i own one but none of the others. i have a fish that was labelled marble gar, but i dont think it actually is a gar. any suggestions as to what it could be??
johnnylaw1984
02-12-2006, 12:32 AM
After having my gars for about 6 months, they grew about 4-5 inches, they can grow quickly
MrHarris
03-01-2006, 3:14 AM
in 7-8 months gar went from 5-7" to 12-14"