Thankyou guys I was just excited about the gar maybe I'll just buy him when I get my 300g 
Spotted Gar and Bichir
- Thread starter Reyyy52
- Start date
Rey,
Decide well. This all depends on how big a gar you will get, but a couple of pointers:
1. Keep small gars in small tanks and transfer as they grow.
I grew a 5" TSG in a 20g high, it was very small, but there is 0 danger that the gar breaks its back when spooked (and they are easily spooked -- switching on light for instance, or just passing by their tank.) I transferred to the 250gal when it was 12", and 3 months back, to the 500gal.
2. Based on my experience with Florida gars and senegal bichirs, they attack senegals in particular (ALWAYS by accident, but it's really just the senegals). 5" TSG is now 18", I got it this February. You get the gist on how fast they grow, a Florida would have much faster growth rate (I have 2) - I had to remove all bichirs < 11". I have a yellow bellied senegal, it's the only bichir the gars attack, even with 3 same sized delhezis.
3. Bichir regeneration is unbelievable (as long as you keep up on your water parameters)
Again, based on my experience, I had a 8" albino senegal had it's pectoral fin totally ripped off and it healed up with minimal disfiguration. That said, it got it's caudal ripped off from the base. That's when I moved them all out.
Florida gars aren't aggressive. But during feeding, if they accidentally get a mouthful of fish, that fish must escape or would become a meal.
Given how senegals are slow growers, I strongly advise housing a gar, even if you were keeping it in a 300g.
Sample accidents:
(This fish is actually missing it's pectoral fin)
(Couple days later, it's also lost a chunk of it's caudal. I decided it's time to move it. In picture is part of the ripped off caudal. The gar didn't eat it, and let go, but damage already done)
Bonus:
Gars look like they have long snouts that can't eat anything... It's hard to believe what they can fit (in width)
Decide well. This all depends on how big a gar you will get, but a couple of pointers:
1. Keep small gars in small tanks and transfer as they grow.
I grew a 5" TSG in a 20g high, it was very small, but there is 0 danger that the gar breaks its back when spooked (and they are easily spooked -- switching on light for instance, or just passing by their tank.) I transferred to the 250gal when it was 12", and 3 months back, to the 500gal.
2. Based on my experience with Florida gars and senegal bichirs, they attack senegals in particular (ALWAYS by accident, but it's really just the senegals). 5" TSG is now 18", I got it this February. You get the gist on how fast they grow, a Florida would have much faster growth rate (I have 2) - I had to remove all bichirs < 11". I have a yellow bellied senegal, it's the only bichir the gars attack, even with 3 same sized delhezis.
3. Bichir regeneration is unbelievable (as long as you keep up on your water parameters)
Again, based on my experience, I had a 8" albino senegal had it's pectoral fin totally ripped off and it healed up with minimal disfiguration. That said, it got it's caudal ripped off from the base. That's when I moved them all out.
Florida gars aren't aggressive. But during feeding, if they accidentally get a mouthful of fish, that fish must escape or would become a meal.
Given how senegals are slow growers, I strongly advise housing a gar, even if you were keeping it in a 300g.
Sample accidents:
(This fish is actually missing it's pectoral fin)
(Couple days later, it's also lost a chunk of it's caudal. I decided it's time to move it. In picture is part of the ripped off caudal. The gar didn't eat it, and let go, but damage already done)
Bonus:
Gars look like they have long snouts that can't eat anything... It's hard to believe what they can fit (in width)
