Hi I want to buy a smaller sized gar. which species of gar stays relatively small? to be more specific, something less than 3-4 feet. or maybe 3 feet maximum. i will be getting a 500 gallon tank.. and i guess a gar would be a good choice. its gonna be an 8 foot tank. As for tank mates, the smallest things i have in there are probably a 8-9 inch ID shark, 8-9 Jardini, 3 5 inch and under clown loaches. and some smaller bichirs. smallest bichir maybe 7 inches. though thin as a sharpie marker.