View Full Version : first time owning gar
i picked up this gar from lfs yd, ive been told its an alligator gar and from the research ive been doing ppl say they reach 9ft??? i was wondering what you guys feed them besides feeders and shrimp? and if anybody has gotten these guys eating pellets or dry foods
heres a pic of my gar.. plz feel free to comment all is welcome
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/skinnydragon/DSC00039.jpg
DrZacharyus
08-09-2007, 2:54 PM
its a blurry picture but that does look like an alligator gar to me, good luck as he will eat just about anything you put in the tank including yourself :whoa: they get around 10' and require a HUGE pond and can grow up to a foot a month under extreme conditions.
cichlid savage
08-09-2007, 2:57 PM
They can grow a foot a month :WHOA: !! Now thats monster!!
DrZacharyus
08-09-2007, 3:00 PM
in their youth yes, as they mature groth with slow
i have them with p.bass , NGT, fire eel and a stingray right now.. they're all around 6-7". how long would they live together?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/skinnydragon/IMG_5612.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/skinnydragon/IMG_5613.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/skinnydragon/IMG_5615.jpg
i hope these pics are better.. i'm not too good wif the camera ...lol >.<
suckerfish
08-09-2007, 4:02 PM
I'D say your fire eel will be the first to be eaten, then pbass, then dat, and in a few years so will the ray. gotta love the gar though.
ESJBond007
08-09-2007, 5:08 PM
i have a florida gar and i got him eating pellets but it takes awhile for them to eat them and hes only 4 inches. its better when the gars a smaller since i had a gar 10 inches and would not take any pellets
demjor19
08-09-2007, 5:32 PM
it is def. A. Spatula (alligator gar). the tankmates wont last long. what size tank are you keeping this guy in?
in the wild they have been known to reach slightly over 10', but in aquaria i would say 6'-7' is max. their growth rate is extremely fast! in its first year you will be looking at least a 2'-3' fish. they are very easy to get eating pellets and other preped foods...given a little effort.
E_americanus
08-09-2007, 5:37 PM
as stated above, it's definitely a gator gar. these fish won't grow a foot/month in captivity, but can reach around 3' (give or take) in the first year given the right conditions.
either way, this species is by far the largest AND most aggressive of the gar species. it will grow fast AND it will take out those tankmates in the next couple months, if not sooner. gators have an immense drive to feed, especially early on in life, so i would first off consider getting a smaller species of gar if possible (maybe trade in for a Florida/spotted). they will get big fast and they will take out tankmates...two issues that do not make them very well suited for most aquarists, and beginner gar-keepers.
i'm also curious as to the size of the current tank, we can give you an estimate of how long the fish can stay in there if you let us know. great fish, just not great for most hobbyists--
--solomon
DrZacharyus
08-09-2007, 6:53 PM
really? ive read that in a pond, a young alligator gar grew from 6" to 19" in just over one month...they look about a foot or so now...watch out even at this size i would be concerned for the eel pbass and dat...
E_americanus
08-09-2007, 8:42 PM
really? ive read that in a pond, a young alligator gar grew from 6" to 19" in just over one month...they look about a foot or so now...watch out even at this size i would be concerned for the eel pbass and dat...
oh they can definitely clear a foot in one month, that's not a problem even in regular aquaria...i was just taking what was stated somewhat literally, not knowing that you just meant the initial month. if you look at the initial post, it says "a foot a month"...they can definitely reach one foot in their first month, but it's implied in the statement that they would grow 12"/month...which would lead to a 10' gar in no time ;)
that's all i was getting at, i knew you didn't mean 12" for every month, but after 12" they continue to grow quickly, but usually top out around 2-3' in their first year--
--solomon
its in a 90 right now.. when its big enough iwas planning to move it to 180
DrZacharyus
08-09-2007, 10:18 PM
oh they can definitely clear a foot in one month, that's not a problem even in regular aquaria...i was just taking what was stated somewhat literally, not knowing that you just meant the initial month. if you look at the initial post, it says "a foot a month"...they can definitely reach one foot in their first month, but it's implied in the statement that they would grow 12"/month...which would lead to a 10' gar in no time ;)
that's all i was getting at, i knew you didn't mean 12" for every month, but after 12" they continue to grow quickly, but usually top out around 2-3' in their first year--
--solomon
yeah I just wish fish like this came with some type of waiver to educate the uneducated..
go ahead and put it in the 180...around christmas time you may want santa to bring you a 10' Diameter pond (atleast).
Polypterus
08-09-2007, 10:24 PM
yeah I just wish fish like this came with some type of waiver to educate the uneducated..
Or maybe the Uneducated should educate themselves and they should take responsibility in knowing what it is they are buying...
DrZacharyus
08-09-2007, 11:01 PM
but it is the nature of the human being to learn from mistakes, sometimes which are repeated...
Polypterus
08-09-2007, 11:05 PM
but it is the nature of the human being to learn from mistakes, sometimes which are repeated...
That is an excuse that is often given by those seeking to avoid accepting personal responsibility in there actions..
cichlid savage
08-09-2007, 11:10 PM
Good luck!
demjor19
08-09-2007, 11:18 PM
That is an excuse that is often given by those seeking to avoid accepting personal responsibility in there actions..
i think you both make valid points.
in a perfect world everyone would do research before buying a fish or any pet for that matter (as i now do) although there was a time when i bought fish on impulse as many others do.
as far as having waivers...most lfs cant even properly id these fish, let alone care where they end up. so i would say that will never happen.
ultimately i would have to agree w/ richard. find a fish you want, research it, and if you can provide proper housing and care...buy it.
E_americanus
08-10-2007, 1:17 AM
i think you both make valid points.
in a perfect world everyone would do research before buying a fish or any pet for that matter (as i now do) although there was a time when i bought fish on impulse as many others do.
as far as having waivers...most lfs cant even properly id these fish, let alone care where they end up. so i would say that will never happen.
ultimately i would have to agree w/ richard. find a fish you want, research it, and if you can provide proper housing and care...buy it.
definitely agree :)
madmac82
08-10-2007, 6:19 AM
yup, its a gator gar.
they do grow very fast and eat loads, but once they get to a foot long their growth rate slows down a bit.
good luck with him if you decide to keep him. :)