Alligator Gar switching to Arapaima.. questions

[witchking]

Too all MFK's

I have two 3 year old alligator gars. Well, they turn 3 years old this March. They are both 28-30 inches in length. My pond is 20x10 feet. Water depth now is about 3 feet. Max is 5++ feet.

I want to aquire an Arapaima. But instead of adding it in the pond I will be removing the gars. A friend of mine wanted to adopt the gars so I wont be having any problems there. I want to make room for the arapaima

My questions are

1. Im planning to buy a 14-15 inch arapaima. Say it reaches 4 feet in a couple of years. How long will it take to reach 6-7 feet? My gars were fast growers in their first year and stopped growing fast past their 2nd year. Do arapaimas have a certain point where they stop growing fast?

2. My gars are like vacuum cleaners when it comes to food. So which one has a bigger appetite, A. Gars or Arapaima's?

3. I still love my gars. But I really want to try out the other monster. Which one is more fun to own?


TIA!

 

[HungDang]

arapima is a fastest growing fresh water fish I ever know! if you got a baby arapima(4-5'') that not stunted for staying at the LFS too long, your fish may pass 4 ft before 1 years! I heard Arapima in farms that they grow them for food can reach 6ft in 2 years!

 

[witchking]

Wow that is fast. I was offered with a 3 foot arapaima, but price is doubled compare to the 15 inch one im supposed to get. hmm

 

[cg1]

IMO gars are better, but do whatever you want to do, its your pond. Just make sure the gars go to a good home, you dont want someone trying to put them in a 75 gallon tank

 

[FLESHY]

If that person is a hobbyist, and you want that three foot one, wait it out. The chance of him rehoming that fish IMO is very slim.

 

[Zoodiver]

I've had both alligator gar and arapaima. If cared for properly, the arapaima will be 5-6 feet in a couple of years (I had a 6' two year old).
The arapamia will also eat about twice the amount of a similar size alligator gar. In 4 years, you're arapaima will need more space than a 20'x10' pond.

 

[witchking]

IMO gars are better, but do whatever you want to do, its your pond. Just make sure the gars go to a good home, you dont want someone trying to put them in a 75 gallon tank

The gars will be safer and happier I guarantee. The guy Im giving to it own several ponds in his farm. The smallest one is three times the size of my pond. He breeds a lot of grocery type fishes. He had one segregated for the gars. I'm still convincing him to get into the exotic hobby. I hope keeping the gars will be enough to lure him in lol. Time will tell.

If that person is a hobbyist, and you want that three foot one, wait it out. The chance of him rehoming that fish IMO is very slim.

Yes he is. He will be living town this coming summer. Im still thinking about it. And yes, it is very slim but there are still interested buyers of the fish. I will not be suprised if someone else purchases it before I make up my mind.

I've had both alligator gar and arapaima. If cared for properly, the arapaima will be 5-6 feet in a couple of years (I had a 6' two year old).
The arapamia will also eat about twice the amount of a similar size alligator gar. In 4 years, you're arapaima will need more space than a 20'x10' pond.

What is the size of your biggest arapaima? And how old?

 

[Zoodiver]

What is the size of your biggest arapaima? And how old?

I've kept some full sized adults, but I have no idea on age for the largest.