Gar and Bichirs

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I too am considering buying an Ornate Bichir with plans to eventually (after a few months in a grow-out) add it to my tank with two 11-12" FL Gars and one 16" Silver Aro. (Sizes are current sizes.)

From what I have read, Ornates get to about 12" relatively quickly and then their growth-rate slows down till they reach a max size of about 18"-20".

Assuming that the Ornates are (always) going to be about 1/2 the size of the Gars, is there a significant risk that the Gars might eat/kill them?

Seeking expert advice.

Cheers,
Sid
 
Wiggles92;4395256; said:
I've noticed that many people on here keep gar with bichirs. I want to put my two Senegal bichirs (about 4") with my longnose gar (about 6"). I am going to add at least an 8" Florida gar soon, so what is the longest that I can let the gars get before I need to separate them from the bichirs?
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Ryan,

assuming you will be at the Nature Center tomorrow, be sure and ask me about the bichir stuff (and anything else) this weekend. i'll be getting there a bit later in the evening and staying until Sunday--
--solomon
 
Longnose and florida? They will cohabit fine and probably enjoy the company of other gars (as long as they are of a close size range)
 
Oh, they should be. I've never had an issue between any type of gar and bichir.
 
The only thing I'de be worried about is max adult sizes.. if your gar get to the 24"+ mark Senegals being the smallest species of Bichir "May" be a snack as generally they max in the 8"-12" range. But I doubt it. Bichir also grow ime slow compared to gar. But will grow steady.
 
It would depend greatly on your bichirs and gars growth rate. I'm not talking in general but per your specimens. I would honestly get senegals that are a bit larger than the gars especially if your going to put it in with a longnose. I would say you could keep them together for about a year, then I would be worried about the bichir becoming a meal in the not so distant future. You would be a bit safer with a florida gar. But the general rule applies, if it looks like the gar can fit it in it's mouth then most likely it will try a few times. For example my longnose is less than a year old and can easily eat strips of tilapia that are 7" long and half the gar's girth.
 
RedDwarf;4405365; said:
It would depend greatly on your bichirs and gars growth rate. I'm not talking in general but per your specimens. I would honestly get senegals that are a bit larger than the gars especially if your going to put it in with a longnose. I would say you could keep them together for about a year, then I would be worried about the bichir becoming a meal in the not so distant future. You would be a bit safer with a florida gar. But the general rule applies, if it looks like the gar can fit it in it's mouth then most likely it will try a few times. For example my longnose is less than a year old and can easily eat strips of tilapia that are 7" long and half the gar's girth.
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I have a 6" Albino Senegal in with two Florida Gars around the foot mark without serious incident. The Senegal WILL attempt to take meat chunks from either of the two Gars if it is hanging from their mouths though.

I also had my 20" LNG (14" at the time) in a 135 growout tank with two 9" Ornates and no challenges whatsoever.
 
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