GAR & Chiclids Together?

[JONP]

I put a 6 inch (spotted gar, believe) in my 75 gallon tank today. I have 2 red peacock, 2 Lemon, 2 electric blue, 1 compressiceps, 2 red zebra cichlids (all Malawi fish) and 3 clown loaches, 1 columbian shark, and a sucker. Has anyone mixed both cichlids with gar species and what can I expect?

Don't want to have any carnage take place....

 

[Jakdarippa]

I put a 6 inch (spotted gar, believe) in my 75 gallon tank today. I have 2 red peacock, 2 Lemon, 2 electric blue, 1 compressiceps, 2 red zebra cichlids (all Malawi fish) and 3 clown loaches, 1 columbian shark, and a sucker. Has anyone mixed both cichlids with gar species and what can I expect?

Don't want to have any carnage take place....

Hey Jon,
Some people will tell you if its too big to fit in the gars mouth, it'll be safe. I say don't do it! .. I had mine in with a flowerhorn that got tore up everytime food was dropped in the tank, 2 very large clown knifes that ended up with terrible gashes on their humps and died as a result of those injuries, a TSN (Ultimate Monsters thread) and a speedy Mubana (one of my favorites) that just vanished.. with the big teeth its a constant gamble. Get another gar or two and house them in their own tank.. and dont forget to post some pics maybe some of the guys here can ID your gar. I speak out of experience with gator gars.

 

[demjor19]

you should just try it and see what happens! i think it would make a rather amusing thread if you updated as the gar grows.

the fact is gar are predators...which means they prey on smaller fish, mamals, insects, etc...the gar you have will not remain at 6" for long. he will reach the one foot mark in no time.

on the other note...placing a gar w/ aggressive tankmates (such as the ones you have mentioned) can resault in the gar being injured well before he could ever reaches decent size. i would not recommend the stocklist mentioned above.

 

[JONP]

I appreciate all the information. I'd like to relocate him as soon as possible to a empty tank. There definately seems to be some tension in the living quarters. I'll keep you updated as well as post some pics of my current set up.

 

[Bsixxx]

should be fine!

i have two floridas with a red devil a breeding pair of jags a convict and a big ol oscar

 

[cichlid savage]

First I would say that tank is preety full already. second I would say the gar will kill it'stankmates or be killed by 1.

 

[JONP]

to Jordan's point, my cichlids have been very aggressive towards the gar. My peacocks will even bite the end of the gar's mouth, believe it or not. I know it is a matter of time before he eats a tank mate. All my fish are fairly small too?

 

[demjor19]

to Jordan's point, my cichlids have been very aggressive towards the gar. My peacocks will even bite the end of the gar's mouth, believe it or not. I know it is a matter of time before he eats a tank mate. All my fish are fairly small too?

i think relocating him would be the best idea.

another point i failed to mention is the fact that most cichlids are much more aggressive at feeding time. in many cases the cichlids will eat the food before the gar even has a chance to feed. this could cause some long term problems due to a poor diet.

 

[Bsixxx]

i think relocating him would be the best idea.

another point i failed to mention is the fact that most cichlids are much more aggressive at feeding time. in many cases the cichlids will eat the food before the gar even has a chance to feed. this could cause some long term problems due to a poor diet.

not if the gar is bigger than the cichlids but not too big to eat them it will be fine!

 

[demjor19]

not if the gar is bigger than the cichlids but not too big to eat them it will be fine!

it's still a recipe for disaster. i was using a similar tank setup for my tropical gar when i was growing him out. as he grew tankmates started to die and disappear. some gar do ok in these setups...others don't. it's all up to the owner if they want to take the risk.