gar and cold water

[new2natives]

I know certain north american gar species can be found pretty far north

I'm thinking very seriously about putting some gar in my outdoor pond in ohio.

Specifically gator gars and possibly florida/spotted, as well as shortnose.

The gators I can get are very small, and I would tank raise them for a few months.
How warm does my water need to be before moving them outside?


I doubt any of them could stay in the pond all winter? But what's the temp that I would need to move them inside/outside at ???


(The pond is 1100g. 16' x 4' x 2.5' deep. This past winter I had 6-8" of ice form, but my catfish and koi are still alive and kicking now that the ice has melted. The koi will find a new home if I get decent size gar )

 

[Conner]

The main problem with a pond that freezes over, is that the gar need to get to the surface to breath. You'd need to keep at least several square feet of space open for them to be able to surface.

Otherwise, I would think spotted gars, shortnose gars, and longnose gars should all be able to stay year round in your pond. Not sure about Florida's or gators, as they seem to be a more southern species from what I've seen (not exactly an expert on this though).

 

[Polypterus]

If you want a gar that will do very well then look locally for them. These will work just fine. To determine the temp when you would need to move whatever species to an indoor condition would depend on the collection locality of that fish or if it was Tank raised or not. There is not a simple answer to this as variabilities exist.

One can not blanket state that such and such species as a whole will behave or operate in this way at such and such temp. Variances occur across the range of the animal and these variances need to be accounted for. Even within the range of Gators there is a difference in temperature tolerance and preference. Locality is a key to just what you can do or what you should not do. Captive raising of a given fish can also remarkably change preferred temp.. Why do not know.. But it is there and needs more investigation.

 

[new2natives]

I would make sure there will b a good amount of unfrozen water where they can surface all winter.

I also thought gators were a southern fish, but I was watching a fishing show where they were catching them. The guys were wearing coats and I think snow was falling, and they wore rubber gloves to
pull them out b/c they said the water was so cold ?!?!?!?

 

[new2natives]

If you want a gar that will do very well then look locally for them. These will work just fine. To determine the temp when you would need to move whatever species to an indoor condition would depend on the collection locality of that fish or if it was Tank raised or not. There is not a simple answer to this as variabilities exist.

On can not blanket state that such and such species as a whole will behave or operate in this way at such and such temp. Variances occur across the range of the animal and these variances need to be accounted for.

I was affraid of that ...
I'm not much of an angler. I do good at the smoking, drinking, and riding in a boat parts ... But I'm not so good at the catching fish part !!

So gators and floridas from the lfs may not be a good idea?

Everyone keep their input coming

 

[E_americanus]

I would make sure there will b a good amount of unfrozen water where they can surface all winter.

I also thought gators were a southern fish, but I was watching a fishing show where they were catching them. The guys were wearing coats and I think snow was falling, and they wore rubber gloves to
pull them out b/c they said the water was so cold ?!?!?!?

i would do a simple online search on the range of gator gars before trying to make assumptions based on apparent conditions in an episode of a fishing show. it gets cold and snows in the south too.

gators don't range much higher than the northern Mississippi river these days--
--solomon

 

[new2natives]

i would do a simple online search on the range of gator gars before trying to make assumptions based on apparent conditions in an episode of a fishing show. it gets cold and snows in the south too.

gators don't range much higher than the northern Mississippi river these days--
--solomon

Very true.
I just thought it was weird b/c they commented on the water temp being so cold as they netted it.

Some locals have told me that 3-5' gar can be caught locally beneath a big dam about 15 miles north of my house. I was unsure what species they would be. But only gators and longnose get that big ?!?!?

The reason for my OP was to get some info.
I don't always trust google, and there are many knowledgeable gar guys on here (you being one of them) so sometimes this is easier/more reliable

 

[Polypterus]

Gators do not happen in Ohio so we only have Longnosed for that description.

 

[sbuse]

longnose or shortnose would be your best bet...i have encountered both in the wild here in MN...still try to get some wc gars for the said reasons...i have noticed that alot gather by the power plants in the winter...that being said they still might prefure the warmer waters put out by these plants...or they could just be there for the open water...

 

[wednesday13]

Gators were once very common fish in ohio until the 50's when they were over fished to smaller numbers. They can still be found in the ohio river, but are very hard to come by. Longnose are alot more commin in our state though and are very close in our neighbor west virginia. I've read a post on here about someone who collected a small longnose gar in "Big Darby Creek" which is located right around your door step it makes me sad i dont live in C-bus anymore to collect some for myself.