growing out florida gar

fishonfishonfish

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 22, 2013
130
28
46
florida
so i decided to set up my 480G pond with shubunkin goldfish, I fell in love with a orange and black one at the pet store. Anyway i was wondering, I always wanted a florida gar in for 4,000g pond but I knew it would get to big and eat my GT and JD, so i got thinking and do think if a waiting for the goldfish to get 6 inches and added a 4-5 inch gar, if i could grow the Florida gar in there till he maxed out at 18 inch o so then switch him to the big pond?. The shubunkins get 12 inch and stay in the mid/bottom so im not to concerned about the gar attacking them. Is it possible?
 

MonsterMinis

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 28, 2009
6,048
9
0
Wisconsin
Gar will utilize the whole water column... But on that note I don't see why it shouldn't work as long as you have plenty fo food available for the gar that's a more suitable size ( like some sort of livebearer to keep the gar well fed and happy. I found my gar are content to eat smaller foods as long as its available vs a larger harder to tackle meal. particularly w/ a gar species as generally laid back as a florida. tbh if you have the space I'de get a group of 3-5 their interaction is well worth the mouths to feed.
 

fish squish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 24, 2013
140
6
18
United States
As previously noted, Florida Gar are pretty laid back, but they can and will take down prey items 1/3 their size. They'll grow pretty quickly to about 10-12 inches then slow down. A 12 inch florida gar isn't going to mess with a robust 6" goldfish unless it is starving, I'd go for it.
 

fish squish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 24, 2013
140
6
18
United States
needle nose 'gar'? the long slender ones, piscivores? They should be fine with floridas, provided they're well fed. Still a chance of mishaps but you really have that any time you house predators together.
 

MonsterMinis

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 28, 2009
6,048
9
0
Wisconsin
My florida destroyed or attempted to destroy a neddlefish when I first got into them... ime these 2 do not play well and likely has to do w/ the gar and needelfish having different languages. Gar are "pack" animals in that they devlop a heirachy in a group by postures ect... needlefish don't often understand this and a dominant gar will attack the needlefish time and again since it don't display "submission"
 
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