Florida Gar won't eat :(

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
W

Water

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 29, 2007
3,370
15
68
Houston
Hey MFKers.. I just got my very first Florida Gar 2 days ago. I've done my share of googling and reading the stickies. It's ~13". At the LFS, I asked them to feed the Gars. They used feeder goldfish and the one I picked did eat a feeder. Now it's about day 3.. and it has yet to eat. I read a lot of threads where people stated that you HAVE to add feeders. No thanks. So if anyone has advice to get it to eat without using feeders would be great. I've tried pellets, Superworms, Earthworms, krill, tilapia and bloodworms. It attempted to eat a bloodworm at the surface a few minutes ago.. It missed... It's obviously hungry.. It's just very hard headed.

It's in a 150gallon.. With a 5" Jardini Arowana, 4 Bala Sharks(Range from 2"-4", I'm surprised the Gar hasn't taken these out), 2 IT Datnoids(1" and 2.5", Surprised the Gar hasn't taken out the 1"er..) and 2 Senegals(1 Albino, 1 regular). Water parameters are good, temperature of the tank is 82degrees.. I know some Gar keepers are against keeping Jardini's with Gars, but my Jar stays far away from the Gar and only puffs itself up if the Gar approaches it. Other than that, its a peaceful tank. Thanks in advance!
 
ultimatejay said:
It will eat. Gars can go without food for a long time. Try shrimp and smelt. They are kind of slow so put the food right in front of it. You may have to tie a piece of fishing line loosely and dangle it in front of him or use tongs.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...
Just tried the shrimps and smelt. I dangled it and he swam up to investigate.. He touched it with his snout but didn't take it.. :(
 
well, that is some improvement, some fish that I know take 2-3 weeks to begin eating after move!
 
I guess that's good. I tossed in some tilapia and he swam over to check em out too..Hopefully he takes a snap at them too.
 
there is no point to feed feeder at this time when you are kinda half way on making it eat dead food!
 
try and hand feed instead of throwing the shrimp in. hold it at the top till he takes it. i was lucky with my gar it took to pellets right away.
 
OP with 2400+ posts starts a thread about gar with other type fish and not feeding feeders and no flaming, whereas when I say no feeders I get flamed hard :o

But that aside, just keep trying Water.
It took me a few days from getting the gar to converting to pellets, try the Hikari foodsticks!
Will also be better if you have the gar with other fish that is eating the type of food you are trying to convert to! (I had a small aro, rocket gars and a pike characin that ate foodsticks)

Goodluck mate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom