Acquiring Gars

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
D

Dubeckyj

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 22, 2011
112
2
48
Canada
Hi all! After learning my new friend isn't an alligator, I thought it would be awesome to get some more. The LFS I bought it from sold out (apparently the whole batch were alligator, and my florida slipped in somehow). Being in Canada, they said it was extremely lucky they were able to acquire YOY at all, and the only gar they can get a hold of in the near future are 12"+ shortnoses, which I can pull out of a local lake for the cost of bait if I were so inclined.

I've noticed a lot of shipped fish on this site, and I was wondering what the more reputable gar suppliers are that'll ship to a private address in Canada. I want to get a hold of the YOY while mine is still small. Also, do florida/spotted gar show aggression towards eachother? Would it be ok for me to keep 3 or 4 in a 450 (once they're grown out)?

Thanks!

-Dubeckyj
 
I'm not sure where you are in canada but it is very easy to acquire yoy gars, or at least it is in ontario. Floridas are routinely available as 3"ish individuals from fish farms in asia. As well you get 6-8" individuals imported regularly. Gators turn up every once in a while as small specimens and people regularly look to rehome larger individuals.

Also there are no shortnose gars found in canada, though you can catch longnose gars, and spotted can/could be found, though spotted gars are endangered in ontario. Be aware that the transportation of a native fish from a local water body is illegal unless you have a permit allowing you to do so. A fishing license does not allow this. If you are in quebec the laws might be different there. Also, I kind of doubt the store can bring in shortnose gars, probably just florida gars.

As far as private shippers with gars, Below Water has gotten in cuban gars and ships throughout canada. Your best bet would be to contact other local stores and see if anyone has gars on the list. If you in southern ontario a wholesaler had 6-8" florida gars 2 weeks ago, but they weren't cheap.
 
Actually, I live outside of Hamilton. My LFS is a Big Al's franchise. They didn't seem confident that they could get 3-4" again. What store would you reccomend? And I thought Nippising had shortnose? I haven't caught one, so I don't know. I paid $15 for my 3" florida.
 
They should be able to get them in no problem. Other than that if your willing to go for a drive I would recomend heading up to mississauga and checking some of the lfs there.
 
I work in mississauga. Are there any you recommend?
 
Last time I was up that way I didn't see any gars, but dragon aquarium and BA's miss have both stocked gars in the past. I would check to see if they have any, or at least ask if they can get them in. Last time that big al's had foridas they were roughly 8" for $25.

Since your probably going past it anyways I might try the oakville big als. Since a couple of the big al's have different owners the stock varies quite a bit from one store to the next. Though they had floridas in last time I was up there, but that was a couple months back.
 
Thanks! I'll call around!
 
No luck. And nobody knows when/if they're coming in again. What's Below Water? I've only found a tourist/pump selling website, with no mention of shipping fish.
 
They should be coming in soon, gators have already started popping up. I know previous years around this time one fish wholesaler would usually stock small floridas, they went out of business a couple months back though. Most of the people ended up moving to a new company and they are starting to get more oddball fish in. Hopefully they will bring some smaller gars in soon.

To contact below water about their fish for sale email fish@belowwater.com. Might have cuban gars in stock.

Another place you could try is Aquatic Kingdom.

If you go down to St. Catharines area the petland had some gars in stock a while back. Were selling 3"ers for $20 I think. Had about half a dozen. If that fails I still know of one wholesaler who had some Floridas but they would have to retail around $70 for a 6-8" gar, and you would have to be willing to travel down to st. catharines area.

The tropical fish room in brantford might have gars in stock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom