Are Gars the fastest growing fish??

[Angler]

I always wonder why people tend to transform every thread into a tank size discussion....

I have never seen any fish grow as fast as Gator's.....It has to do with their need to grow very fast in their fisrt life stage in order to survive. It slows down, after that. But the first growth spurt is incredible.

Well, when the guy has Tems, Emperors, and a Gator Gar, of course it is going to change into a tank size discussion.


That's an awsome stocklist there Ramesh. Post pics!

 

[Ramesh]

I will post some pics tonight of them in there grow out tanks tonight when I get home.
I just spent $900 getting my fish room restumped with 21 concrete stumps and an extra brearer put in to make sure the floor can handle the 500g tank that's coming.

 

[Gator]

They are in grow out tanks but I have a 500g coming after Christmas.
The Temensis are 2inches and the Gar is 7inches now and growing by the minute it's insane. He even thinks about my finger if I put it in there for to long.
I also have three Emperor Cichilds and a pair of Monoculus with the Gar but he is out growing them and he gave them a fair headstart.
I have the Temensis in with a small 2.5inch TNS I hope to also add to my 500g.

Only 500 G and a gator gar? Its already to small for Full grown Emperor Cichlids (36") a couple Tems (30") and a couple Mono's (28") space will be at a premium in no time at all. lol Did you purposely pick out the 3 biggest cichlids in the world or it just happen that way? Just curious but whats a TNS? I hope you don't mean TSN.

 

[ctoychik]

I always wonder why people tend to transform every thread into a tank size discussion....

I have never seen any fish grow as fast as Gator's.....It has to do with their need to grow very fast in their fisrt life stage in order to survive. It slows down, after that. But the first growth spurt is incredible.

I totally agree with Miguel on this one. Yes, gar grows fast and the owner is aware that it is growing fast - the owner is also aware (as stated in subsequent post) that his 500g will house the gator for life.

There really is no point to have thousands and thousand of gallons for a puny juveniles. In my experience it is more difficult to feed small fish in a really large aquarium as they will have trouble catching/finding the food.

I raised my gator gars from 150g tank - big deal (It works just make sure the glass is on the thick side). Then upgrade to bigger (in my case 3x2m) ... moving is tough but so what.

 

[Ramesh]

Only 500 G and a gator gar? Its already to small for Full grown Emperor Cichlids (36") a couple Tems (30") and a couple Mono's (28") space will be at a premium in no time at all. lol Did you purposely pick out the 3 biggest cichlids in the world or it just happen that way? Just curious but whats a TNS? I hope you don't mean TSN.

First of all no I didn't chose the fish based on their size but on my keen interest in the species. Secondly I chose them on their ability to live together as they grow and mature. Thirdly the Gator will eventually be housed outside in a pond hence the purchase of a laguna pond filter I have been asking questions about in the forums.
Size of fish at maturity is only what could be expected and not what is always actually realised in reality. I am well aware of this possible problem but look forward to the day I have to upgrade due to my magnificent fish needing a bigger home.
I just finished restumping my fish room floor at considerable cost so I am seriously commited to this hobby and have planned the future of all my pets.
Lastly, yes I did mean a TSN but I supose in your wisdom you knew what I meant when I typed TNS.
Sorry mate.

 

[ceeej31]

i know that gator gars grow fast, but are they as fast as say pacus, where you can almost see their day to day growth? or pimas, which grow at a rate of around an inch a week?

 

[Ramesh]

I totally agree with Miguel on this one. Yes, gar grows fast and the owner is aware that it is growing fast - the owner is also aware (as stated in subsequent post) that his 500g will house the gator for life.

There really is no point to have thousands and thousand of gallons for a puny juveniles. In my experience it is more difficult to feed small fish in a really large aquarium as they will have trouble catching/finding the food.

I raised my gator gars from 150g tank - big deal (It works just make sure the glass is on the thick side). Then upgrade to bigger (in my case 3x2m) ... moving is tough but so what.

I totally agree on your point of small fish huge tank. I will grow out the fish in their 55g tanks then move them to a 180g and then into the 500g. So I am keeenly monitoring their progression in size hence the thread.
I think the Cichla's and Emperor's should grow at similar rates but the gar looks to be throwing a spanner in the works though.
TSN I am not so sure how quick they grow.

 

[ctoychik]

I totally agree on your point of small fish huge tank. I will grow out the fish in their 55g tanks then move them to a 180g and then into the 500g. So I am keeenly monitoring their progression in size hence the thread.
I think the Cichla's and Emperor's should grow at similar rates but the gar looks to be throwing a spanner in the works though.
TSN I am not so sure how quick they grow.

While not a TSN keeper - i can tell you that they grow fast too ^^ the growth rate supposedly rivals gator ...so gonna be a monster in no time

btw, so how about them pix, ey?

 

[Miguel]

Nothing I ever saw that grows as quickly as a gator.

 

[Gator]

First of all no I didn't chose the fish based on their size but on my keen interest in the species. Secondly I chose them on their ability to live together as they grow and mature. Thirdly the Gator will eventually be housed outside in a pond hence the purchase of a laguna pond filter I have been asking questions about in the forums.
Size of fish at maturity is only what could be expected and not what is always actually realised in reality. I am well aware of this possible problem but look forward to the day I have to upgrade due to my magnificent fish needing a bigger home.
I just finished restumping my fish room floor at considerable cost so I am seriously commited to this hobby and have planned the future of all my pets.
Lastly, yes I did mean a TSN but I supose in your wisdom you knew what I meant when I typed TNS.
Sorry mate.

LOL ok the reason I said I hope you don't mean TSN is because either the gator or the TSN have a good chance of eating your other fish before they get a chance to mature, in which case a 500G should be ok.