FL gar tankmates?

[CTU2fan]

So now that I've got the gar, any thoughts as to particularly good (or bad) choices as gar tankmates? I could have continued the old thread but mega-threading is bad IMO

My original planned stock for this tank was a couple of severums, a couple of uaru (if I could find some more), an oscar, pinktail chal, some poly's, and a lima shovelnose. But now I've got the gar, so I've ruled out the chal. Seems I've read somewhere that an O is a poor gar tankmate (might have been on here but not sure) so if the O is out would a dat be a better choice? I'm a big O fan so I'd hate to cross it off, and I could move it to another tank if necessary, but if you guys think it will cause trouble I'll skip it.

 

[Opiate]

u can always try an oscar dude, remember each individual fish is differen, just always keep a close eye

 

[ermgravy]

it can work.... but is risky....

Dats work but they gota be bigger than u think is safe!

lima would need to be massive as well....

Polys will work bu again need to be big......



I keep mine with: 2 arowanas, bowfin, gars, clown knife, 10 polys, sterlet.... a couple of cchlids, dats and a plec...

 

[E_americanus]

Florida/spotted gars are generally less aggressive towards tankmates than most other gar species, so similarly sized bichirs work, but i wouldn't mess with the oscar as they are generally a bad choice for gar tankmates. datnoids also work, as long as they are similar size to the gar (at least in body mass) and not overly aggressive.

African arows, knife fish, SA lungfish are also good tankmate choices--
--solomon

 

[CTU2fan]

Ya I was concerned about the oscar being too aggressive at feeding time. I'm prepped to grow anything out awhile before putting it in (a dat for example). Right now there are 4 cons in there that are all about 3" or so and pretty chunky, so far the gar has shown no interest in them. If he grabs one I guess I'll know they're too small eh? Planning to get my severums to 5-6" before introducing them.

Like the knife idea but I only really like SA knives like BGK and it would have to be a huge one I think to be safe with the gar. Not a big fan of the CK and RCK, and they get a bit too big for my tank I think.

Could always add another gar I suppose, do they do better or worse in groups, or do they not care?

 

[demjor19]

Ya I was concerned about the oscar being too aggressive at feeding time. I'm prepped to grow anything out awhile before putting it in (a dat for example). Right now there are 4 cons in there that are all about 3" or so and pretty chunky, so far the gar has shown no interest in them. If he grabs one I guess I'll know they're too small eh? Planning to get my severums to 5-6" before introducing them.

Like the knife idea but I only really like SA knives like BGK and it would have to be a huge one I think to be safe with the gar. Not a big fan of the CK and RCK, and they get a bit too big for my tank I think.

Could always add another gar I suppose, do they do better or worse in groups, or do they not care?

gar do very well in groups...most gar anyways. you would be fine with other florida/spotteds.

 

[ermgravy]

Ya I was concerned about the oscar being too aggressive at feeding time. I'm prepped to grow anything out awhile before putting it in (a dat for example). Right now there are 4 cons in there that are all about 3" or so and pretty chunky, so far the gar has shown no interest in them. If he grabs one I guess I'll know they're too small eh? Planning to get my severums to 5-6" before introducing them.

Like the knife idea but I only really like SA knives like BGK and it would have to be a huge one I think to be safe with the gar. Not a big fan of the CK and RCK, and they get a bit too big for my tank I think.

Could always add another gar I suppose, do they do better or worse in groups, or do they not care?

i forgot my bgk in tankmates list.... but my 12" bgk does ok in the prehistoric com.... only thing is every time the white tip of his tail regrows, it gets bit off by someone? always a mystry who, itll be there one min and 2 sec later vanished, while i been watching the tank thou my big endis is probably responsible.... so yea bgks can work, mine is 12" and biggest gar is 16"....

 

[CTU2fan]

Hmm, so the search is on for a large BGK, or grow one out. And I think I might try to find another FL gar, or possibly look into a trop as they are very cool.

Good news, I think my gar is going to go straight to pellets. Tried tossing a handful in yesterday and he definitely recognized them as food, swam right over and kind of poked at them with his nose. I'm hoping today or tomorrow he'll take them but if not I'll start with shrimp.