I released the two shortniose gars into the pond just a few minutes ago. They thanked me by soaking me, the stand, the floor, a canister filter, and even my light canopy .
The smaller guy I just used the net, scooped him up, walked him outside, and deposited him in the pond (first video).
The second shorty, however, I wanted to lay out and measure, so that I could have an accurate measurement for Sol. He soaked me the most. I got him in the net, carried him out back, and set him down on a towel on the ground. I had a 12" ruler and a measuring tape laid out, and damned if he didn't try his hardest to make sure I couldn't get a measurement...
BUT, I got it, and he is exactly 17.5" long! I tried to get a couple decent pics of him with the ruler and measuring tape, but he decided he could swim on concrete , so I had to scoop him up and toss him in the pond. I forgot to record, so I turned it on at the last second and at least caught the splash as he went in the water .
Do you guys know how hard it is to hold a digital camera with one hand and a 17.5" gar with the other?
Anyways, PICS! (and video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgJ3t4192V0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De8i6nyNMVM