Gar and Saratoga fight

[Ramesh]

I went to feed my fish yesterday afternoon and got a big wet surprise in trying to do so.
I have a 6x2.5x2.5 240g tank that houses a 20 inch Gator gar a 20 inch Leichardti a 16 inch Petenia and three XL Gibbiceps.
The Leichardti eats fronzen pieces of meat and the Gar and Splendia eat large Hikari Gold pellets.
I was about to feed the Saratoga when I notice the gar nearby watching for his food also.
I thought nothing of this a dropped in the meat which was taken immediately by my Saratoga but as he was trying to eat it the Gar grabbed the Saratoga by the jaw and all hell broke lose.
The gar hit the roof of the tank as the saratoga twisted out of the toothy grip of the gar and dropped it's food.
After the dust and water had settled the Sartoga and Gar were and still are shaken and I can't help but feel there has been a power shift in the tank away from the Saratoga.
They both didn't eat this morning and the gar is sporting a small scrape on his nose and the Saratoga seems undamage due to have a boney jaw.
I really think they need to be moved into a larger tank as they are now uneasy in each others presence, especially is this now small tank.
Luckily I have a 500g 8' long and 4' wide tank being made as I type ready for them to move into in about two weeks.
I'll have to monitor them closely and feed more carefully in the future.

 

[E_americanus]

I went to feed my fish yesterday afternoon and got a big wet surprise in trying to do so.
I have a 6x2.5x2.5 240g tank that houses a 20 inch Gator gar a 20 inch Leichardti a 16 inch Petenia and three XL Gibbiceps.
The Leichardti eats fronzen pieces of meat and the Gar and Splendia eat large Hikari Gold pellets.
I was about to feed the Saratoga when I notice the gar nearby watching for his food also.
I thought nothing of this a dropped in the meat which was taken immediately by my Saratoga but as he was trying to eat it the Gar grabbed the Saratoga by the jaw and all hell broke lose.
The gar hit the roof of the tank as the saratoga twisted out of the toothy grip of the gar and dropped it's food.
After the dust and water had settled the Sartoga and Gar were and still are shaken and I can't help but feel there has been a power shift in the tank away from the Saratoga.
They both didn't eat this morning and the gar is sporting a small scrape on his nose and the Saratoga seems undamage due to have a boney jaw.
I really think they need to be moved into a larger tank as they are now uneasy in each others presence, especially is this now small tank.
Luckily I have a 500g 8' long and 4' wide tank being made as I type ready for them to move into in about two weeks.
I'll have to monitor them closely and feed more carefully in the future.

yeah, i would separate them for sure. this is a completely unwise combination from the get-go. was it ever brought up previously in the gar forum? if so i (and others) must have missed it because we would have adamantly advised against it. no need for more details as you've already seen what happens and it will only get worse until one of them is dead. good luck in the rearrangement--
--solomon

 

[Ramesh]

Yes, it could only end in tears but hopefully no deaths just bruised egos.
Space is the issue

 

[Polypterus]

Yes, it could only end in tears but hopefully no deaths just bruised egos.
Space is the issue

Why does this seem to pop up over and over when it has be explained a thousand times?

If space is an issue A: you should not be keeping a Gator gar and B: you should not be keeping Saratoga... How often does it need to be said that Atractosteus are generally not Community fish. If you do not have the resources to keep one by it self then do not keep it. Same goes for any gar if you lack resources to house them on their own do not keep them. They are NOT community fish in general and should not be expected to be one.

 

[Hao]

Why does this seem to pop up over and over when it has be explained a thousand times?

If space is an issue A: you should not be keeping a Gator gar and B: you should not be keeping Saratoga... How often does it need to be said that Atractosteus are generally not Community fish. If you do not have the resources to keep one by it self then do not keep it. Same goes for any gar if you lack resources to house them on their own do not keep them. They are NOT community fish in general and should not be expected to be one.

gars arentcommunity fish? o.o really?

 

[zerojquan85]

Why does this seem to pop up over and over when it has be explained a thousand times?

If space is an issue A: you should not be keeping a Gator gar and B: you should not be keeping Saratoga... How often does it need to be said that Atractosteus are generally not Community fish. If you do not have the resources to keep one by it self then do not keep it. Same goes for any gar if you lack resources to house them on their own do not keep them. They are NOT community fish in general and should not be expected to be one.

EHHH..

I've seen lots of Gar being housed together.... in a big tank of course.. that was kinda mean.. the guy knows its too small and he's moving them out..

 

[ctoychik]

Sorry to hear that, Ramesh. ... well at least there were no fatalities. In general, when When my fish fight, it is to death. The current domain is divided with gars, RTCs and old O (pim just hides from both). Note that my gars do not tolerate any silvery shiny fish (e.g. silver aro) ... saratoga is fairly shiny ...

It is hit and miss. I know i guy over here and he has an alligator gar with all sorts of fish (walking cats, tilapia, guppies etc etc) in a concrete pond. The owner said that one day it just stopped eating live food - only catfish pellets.

Moving your 20' beast to his new 500g is going to be unpleasant ...for both of you. Be sure to post pix

 

[crowxviii]

Pics please...

 

[CTU2fan]

gars arentcommunity fish? o.o really?

Yes, really. Particularly gator gars.

 

[E_americanus]

EHHH..

I've seen lots of Gar being housed together.... in a big tank of course.. that was kinda mean.. the guy knows its too small and he's moving them out..

exactly...in a big tank.

i don't think it was mean, it was pretty accurate and to the point. instead of encouraging reckless keeping of these fish with massive photo threads, there should instead be the promotion of responsible fishkeeping (see "show your gators" thread for reference to the former).

Pics please...

pics of this sort of things are completely asinine. we all know what happened, and there is nothing to be gained from a "see how my one fish beat up the other fish" thread.--
--solomon