xander: my posts are based on my experiences in over 40 years in the hobby. sorry if they don't always match those of others. as always, your mileage may vary.
now i did extrapolate a bit on this one, but i figured that if it's currently working in a similar size pond with dempseys and oscars for me, then mayas should also work, they are not too much more aggro than jd's ime. the same pond also currently has multiple plecos and has had sunnies (not greens) and suwannee and smallmouth bass (up to about 8") in the past.
ok, i admit that i have never owned a bowfin, but am still looking. however, i remember a thread (if not here, it may have been on nanfa) where gar and bowfin compatability in a 300 gal rubbermaid was questioned and the responses were generally positive.
by the way, florida gar live in quite a few lakes and ponds in the company of many of these same introduced species, which is why i tried some of them in the first place. trying new combinations of fish is something i enjoy with my small ponds.
i'm not as well versed in gar caretaking as you and several others on this forum, but that doesn't mean you need to ridicule differences of opinion. forums like this should be sources of information and experiences from and for all members, not just a few.
by the way, my name is not dude. or it hasn't been in a very long time. you may call me sir.
now i did extrapolate a bit on this one, but i figured that if it's currently working in a similar size pond with dempseys and oscars for me, then mayas should also work, they are not too much more aggro than jd's ime. the same pond also currently has multiple plecos and has had sunnies (not greens) and suwannee and smallmouth bass (up to about 8") in the past.
ok, i admit that i have never owned a bowfin, but am still looking. however, i remember a thread (if not here, it may have been on nanfa) where gar and bowfin compatability in a 300 gal rubbermaid was questioned and the responses were generally positive.
by the way, florida gar live in quite a few lakes and ponds in the company of many of these same introduced species, which is why i tried some of them in the first place. trying new combinations of fish is something i enjoy with my small ponds.
i'm not as well versed in gar caretaking as you and several others on this forum, but that doesn't mean you need to ridicule differences of opinion. forums like this should be sources of information and experiences from and for all members, not just a few.
by the way, my name is not dude. or it hasn't been in a very long time. you may call me sir.
I Went to a local nature preserve this weekend and saw so many incredible looking gars out in the wild i wanted to go that route with my pond. So my next question is how many florida/spotted can i fit in my pond without it getting to crowded. Thanks for the input, Rob.