Feeding my gar

[arata]

Hello, above is my alligator gar that I got yesterday. Its around 7 or 8 inches in length. It is housed with a 6inch jack dempsy, 2inch striped kuhli loach, 6.5 inch upside-down cat(synodontis comoensis), 1inch cory cats, with some minnows and small goldfish for the time being. I am aware that feeders do not make for a nutritional diet, but its only temporary. I know gars like swimming near the surface and don't really descending too much. It ate a minnow and goldfish yesterday swimming near the top, but the feeders love swimming at the bottom in schools. I know gar are ambush predators, but will it descend to eat the feeders? It doesn't really seem interested in them. Also, I was thinking of getting some shrimp for it or other live food. What would you guys suggest as a good live food source?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

When its hungry, it will descend and eat the feeders, the loach, both types of cats, and probably kill the JD if it can't swallow it.

QT the rosie reds and gut load them with a good quality flake. Then gradually eliminate feeders and attempt to get him on tilapia or salmon or whatever your prepped fish of choice is. These guys will take prepared food, just a matter of getting him to.

Also I feel I should ask what are your long term plans for this fish? They can easily reach above 6 feet in length.

 

[lardieleftover]

If it's a true alligator gar, I really hope you have a massive tank/pond for the future. Those small fish under 3inches are snacks, I'd move them and do some research.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

If it's a true alligator gar, I really hope you have a massive tank/pond for the future. Those small fish under 3inches are snacks, I'd move them and do some research.

look at those souless, serial killer eyes...its a gator gar haha.

 

[arata]

My jack is extremely aggressive and does not allow other cichlids in the tank. The gar and jack stay clear of each other. My upside-down cat is territorial and has taken on green terrors and red devils bigger than it. The loach burrows under the gravel and the cory cats are expendable. I have it now housed in a 75 gallon and will transfer it to a 400 gallon pond when it starts growing a little larger.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

My jack is extremely aggressive and does not allow other cichlids in the tank. The gar and jack stay clear of each other. My upside-down cat is territorial and has taken on green terrors and red devils bigger than it. The loach burrows under the gravel and the cory cats are expendable. I have it now housed in a 75 gallon and will transfer it to a 400 gallon pond when it starts growing a little larger.

haha that JD can be as mean as it wants, the gar is going to out grow it, and probably kill it, same goes for the cat. You have an apex predator in that tank now, the rules are different for those fish lol. Gator gars have a notorious rep for being not only tankmate devourers but also just plain murderers. The loach is the only one who stands a chance but sooner or later it'll pick the wrong time to be unburrowed lol.

So what happens after the 400 gallon? He'll outgrow that too. Not being rude I'm just saying this fish is going to grow rapidly and that 400 won't hold him for as long as you'd think. If you take real good care of him, he will hit 2 feet in a year easy. Somewhere between 2-4 inches a year after that.

 

[arata]

When its hungry, it will descend and eat the feeders, the loach, both types of cats, and probably kill the JD if it can't swallow it.

QT the rosie reds and gut load them with a good quality flake. Then gradually eliminate feeders and attempt to get him on tilapia or salmon or whatever your prepped fish of choice is. These guys will take prepared food, just a matter of getting him to.

Also I feel I should ask what are your long term plans for this fish? They can easily reach above 6 feet in length.

I was going to get some shiners and live shrimp. Main source would be tilapia cut into slabs and hand feed it. The live food would only be an occasional treat.

 

[arata]

haha that JD can be as mean as it wants, the gar is going to out grow it, and probably kill it, same goes for the cat. You have an apex predator in that tank now, the rules are different for those fish lol. Gator gars have a notorious rep for being not only tankmate devourers but also just plain murderers. The loach is the only one who stands a chance but sooner or later it'll pick the wrong time to be unburrowed lol.

So what happens after the 400 gallon? He'll outgrow that too. Not being rude I'm just saying this fish is going to grow rapidly and that 400 won't hold him for as long as you'd think. If you take real good care of him, he will hit 2 feet in a year easy. Somewhere between 2-4 inches a year after that.

I have another tank in case i see any trouble between the jack/cat and gar. I am aware of the risk of housing a gar with any fish around its size or even larger. After my 400 gallon pond i will give it to my uncle who has a 3,000 gallon pond.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I have another tank in case i see any trouble between the jack/cat and gar. I am aware of the risk of housing a gar with any fish around its size or even larger. After my 400 gallon pond i will give it to my uncle who has a 3,000 gallon pond.

Good, glad to see at least one gator gar owner has a plan that actually involves tanks/ponds they already have haha.

Tilapia is a great staple for piscivores, I use it with floyd's vitachem for all my fish over pellets. Gators I've heard take prepped food easier than most. Live feeders aren't bad barring disease/infection and making sure you gutload them to make them slightly more nutritious lol.

 

[arata]

Good, glad to see at least one gator gar owner has a plan that actually involves tanks/ponds they already have haha.

Tilapia is a great staple for piscivores, I use it with floyd's vitachem for all my fish over pellets. Gators I've heard take prepped food easier than most. Live feeders aren't bad barring disease/infection and making sure you gutload them to make them slightly more nutritious lol.

Will do. Thanks for the advice.