Cubans

[pharmaecopia]

wow!! i'm officially jealous great season for us gar lovers i must say!!

Alex the feeling is mutual, I can only dream of my cubans being as big as yours one day.

 

[Hao]

They seem to be popping up more and more, you might find some yet. You still have some awesome gars as it is.

Thanks, I hope I do find one.

Even more pictures. I'm a little pic happy at the moment. It surprises e how variable they seem, especially when they grow up to look so uniform.

Very nice!

 

[Madding]

Wow, I can't believe I missed this thread. Totally awesome man.

 

[pharmaecopia]

Wow, I can't believe I missed this thread. Totally awesome man.

Thank you.

Some more pictures and some more information as well. The sizes are 2 @ 5.75", 1 @ 5.5", and 1 @ 5".

The tank temperature is currently 81F.
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 (used some water from the 600 to transfer the sponge filters which would explain the relatively high nitrate)
GH 280 ppm
KH 350 ppm
pH my tetra dip test is saying 7.8, whereas my seachem pHalert is saying 6.6. Personally I think the seachem one isn't working properly.

 

[MonsterMinis]

So Cute! I have been bugging every lfs I know of to get these in if they ever hit one of their lists... still keeping my fingers crossed I'll be able to pick a few up.

 

[Madding]

Nobody will get them on their lists, you'd have to find a pretty reputable LFS or dealer and hook them up with someone (in Canada or SA) who can import some Cubans.

 

[E_americanus]

kevin -

the fish are looking great! thanks for posting the info too as that will be useful to others looking to keep these fish, etc. given the sizes i would say this batch is slightly smaller than the one from about a month ago, although i don't know if it is also intermediate LFS variation in husbandry as well.

they are serious eating machines, so they will fatten up and put on length fast! keep us updated!--

So Cute! I have been bugging every lfs I know of to get these in if they ever hit one of their lists... still keeping my fingers crossed I'll be able to pick a few up.

i think you had PM'd me sometime back - keep in touch, we will have some available in the relative near future

Nobody will get them on their lists, you'd have to find a pretty reputable LFS or dealer and hook them up with someone (in Canada or SA) who can import some Cubans.

exactly - it's a major pain in the ass! not to mention the cost of individual fish (like this species) ordering through an LFS tends to be ridiculous!--
--solomon

 

[pharmaecopia]

kevin -

the fish are looking great! thanks for posting the info too as that will be useful to others looking to keep these fish, etc. given the sizes i would say this batch is slightly smaller than the one from about a month ago, although i don't know if it is also intermediate LFS variation in husbandry as well.

they are serious eating machines, so they will fatten up and put on length fast! keep us updated!--

I originally tried to get some cubans when you and alex got yours. They were currently out of stock though, and were getting some more from the farm. So as I understand it a different batch of fish from Cuba. I assume it is the same distributor as well, Below Water.

I have already noticed them being eating machines, they are currently decimating some "feeder" zebra danios, while I wait for the stores in my area to get in more feeers.

 

[Madding]

Sorry to derail from this awesome batch of new cubans, but Solomon; make sure to keep me in the loop towards the end of your experiment when some of your stock becomes available.

(I don't think it needed to be said but busy lives have made out-of-MFK communications dwindle for us lately)

 

[pharmaecopia]

Sorry to derail from this awesome batch of new cubans, but Solomon; make sure to keep me in the loop towards the end of your experiment when some of your stock becomes available.

(I don't think it needed to be said but busy lives have made out-of-MFK communications dwindle for us lately)

Don't be sorry, I welcome anything that leads to more keepers of these gars.

I also have a question for Solomon or Richard, I was rereading the cuban gar growth blog on AP, and one things stuck out. It was tat seasonal variation in temps seem to trigger additional growth with them. Is there any more specifics that you can share. Best time to drop the temps, what temperature range, how long, etc.