first gar

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RLHam3

RLHam3

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 29, 2008
536
9
48
Georgia
ok so i've kept fish(mainly large cichlids) for about 6 years and i think that gars are pretty cool and i was thinkin about gettin one. i am not un experienced and i'm willing to invest some time and money into this "project."

1. what are some good beginning gars. (smaller is better) i don't have access to any tanks bigger than 300gal

2. what are some good tankmates (larger cichlids?)

3. what is the best food to feed them? should i start breeding goldfish?

4.Water quality?

5. special rules/ helpful hints?
 
start with a florida.(aka spotted, but your not gunna find a real spotted)

thats all i got.
 
1. Florida

2. More Gar

3. I guess the pellets are the "best", but I can't stand seeing predatory fish eating stupid pellets. I feed mine market shrimp and misc strips of fish with occasional feeders. I used to feed them goldfish all the time, but after learning from the experts on here I found that goldfish deprive Gar of Thiamine or something. Anyways, no need to start breeding golds.

4. Make sure the water quality is good.

5. Keep all section of the top of the tank covered. Gars are jumpers and you don't want to wake up or come home to a dead gar on the floor with hair and carpet and dirt all over him.
 
RLHam3;3258555; said:
ok so i've kept fish(mainly large cichlids) for about 6 years and i think that gars are pretty cool and i was thinkin about gettin one. i am not un experienced and i'm willing to invest some time and money into this "project."

1. what are some good beginning gars. (smaller is better) i don't have access to any tanks bigger than 300gal

2. what are some good tankmates (larger cichlids?)

3. what is the best food to feed them? should i start breeding goldfish?

4.Water quality?

5. special rules/ helpful hints?
Click to expand...

1-florida/spotted gar is the best begginer gar as they're relatively small and unaggressive.

2-good tankmates are other gar and polys. no large cichlids. i'm dying to add pbass with my gar:(

3-shrimp, fillet, live food that is not from yr lfs...

4-just mantain a stable pH. these fish are hardy and can handle rouch conditions but should be provided good water quality for optimum growth..

5-no pleco tankmates.
 
from what i've heard from reliable guys shortnoses can be very skittish and suicidal. i personally have not kept a shortnose, but i realldy do think one should start off with a florida gar at least for a short while to get comfortable with the fish before moving on to more challenging species.
 
I agree with the above. Florida would be best to start with.

Just to throw in my two cents, for the whole 3 days that I've had my Shortnose (a lot of experience, huh:ROFL:), they seem to be more active than the Florida gar, as well as more skittish. That could be due to being in a new place, a slightly smaller tank than before, the fact that they're young, etc etc.
 
Florida as others have said. I love mine. If you do get any other fish for the tank, get one that is very placid. Sevs are pretty placid, the gars are placid as well.
 
thank you guys very much. it's nice to know that i don't have to feed him just live food. that could be a hassel. also what would be a good alternative pleco? i'd just want advice for a clean up crew
 
o and these were some options that i was considering for tankmates:

northa american (pumpkinseed)sunfish, channell cat, or maybe a south american set up with polypterus delhezi & senegalus, arowana, peacock bass i dunno what do ya'll think?
 
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