*Common Gar Care Guide*

LittleMonsterFun

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 14, 2009
252
0
0
Connecticut
Basic Gar Care

Below are some of the necessary facts and care information to keeping gar.


Temperature
76-78 dF, for growing gar 80-82 dF is optimum.

Size
The various sizing can be found here.

Identification/Species
Identification
Species

Tank Placement
Gars have been known for smashing into the tank and breaking their nose and back frequently. Although many will recover near 100% from this, it is best to keep them in a low traffic area so that they are not scared often.

Minimum Tank Size
The bigger the better. But if you are limited, a good suggestion are dimensions that are 2-3x fishes length, by fishes length, by fishes length. This insures that they have enough space to turn around and swim. More is always better.

Lighting
Most common lighting will be fine; make sure to give sleeping/resting time to the fish. They need sleep and rest as much as we do.

Filtration
Of course the more filtration the better. As gars are often big and sometimes messy (dependent on the food), it is for the benefit of the fish to have clean water. Weekly water changes are recommended.

Note: Gars are not fast swimmers, and do not do well in strong current water. You can make the filter outlet more peaceful by putting a plate under it. Because this takes away from the flow, the inlet can not take up as much garbage. This will make it necessary to vac the tank yourself. This also removes some of the oxygen that was flowing into the water; you can fix this by buying a simple air pump.

Décor
Leave the top of the tank open for swimming, but the bottom could have decorations no problem.

Feeding
Piscivorous, main diet consists of fish and the occasional reptiles, amphibians, mammals, inverts, and the like that show up. A large amount of gars only take to feeders, if so; all care should be taken to quarantine them, treating for parasites and fungus, and must be fed high quality foods beforehand. A short starvation period should be effective in converting from live foods only to frozen and freeze dried foods. Freeze-dried krill and market prawns/shrimp are quite readily taken by most individuals.

Common Sickness Causes
Fungus, aggressive tank mates, stress, and small tanks.

Temperament and Compatibility
Gars are often very peaceful predators, and won’t bother fish that aren’t considerably smaller than it. They have been known to be picked on by many fish. The best tankmates are other species of gar. Some other reported successful tank mates are polypterus and some knifefish. Most tankmates depend on the specific fish temperament.

Common Behavior
Gars like swimming in the middle level of the tank, and occasionally going to the top to get air. It is also common for a gar to be “chilling” on the bottom of the tank.


Sources:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/
http://www.fishforums.com/forum/u-s-natives/14013-florida-gar.html
http://www.aquaticpredators.com/
Personal Knowledge

Hopefully this is helpful to all gar keepers:woot:
(If you have anything to add, feel free to post your thoughts and I will update as necessary.)
 

xander

Manjuari
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2007
8,535
57
555
Singapore
i find that for different gars, there are very, very different care sheets:) the guide you have is most appripriate for florida gars:)
 
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