i would tend to agree with the above post on this issue chris; but first off, how big are those cats and would they remain in the tank or be moved? i have no experience with those catfishes, so i cannot speak to their compatibility.
as for the gars, i think either way has its pros and cons. they would certainly do well in either setting with all that space, and i am sure they would grow well for you. in the smaller tank, however, they would have to compete with the catfishes for food, but at the same time they would be able to find the food pretty easily. in the larger tank they may have a tougher time finding the food, but since there is no other competition, it's just a matter of teaching the gars where/when the food is coming.
i know the Cuban you will be getting will be fine in either setting, and trops are of course quite durable. i haven't measured the Cuban as of late, but i'm sure it will be of compatible size with your trop. if you want them bigger faster, throw them in the big tank and make sure they get food. if growing them to larger size faster isn't a priority, go ahead and take your time with them in the smaller tank, and then after they put on some more size, move them to the pond...this will also give you a chance to observe them for a while before you're left with primarily a dorsal view of the fishes in the pond
good luck and let us know if you have further questions--
--solomon
ps -- my apologies for sounding cocky or whatever else in the earlier posting, but it has been a common occurence that people will give advice on species they have never kept...and this advice/practice should generally be avoided when it comes up (or at least noted as such).
as for the gars, i think either way has its pros and cons. they would certainly do well in either setting with all that space, and i am sure they would grow well for you. in the smaller tank, however, they would have to compete with the catfishes for food, but at the same time they would be able to find the food pretty easily. in the larger tank they may have a tougher time finding the food, but since there is no other competition, it's just a matter of teaching the gars where/when the food is coming.
i know the Cuban you will be getting will be fine in either setting, and trops are of course quite durable. i haven't measured the Cuban as of late, but i'm sure it will be of compatible size with your trop. if you want them bigger faster, throw them in the big tank and make sure they get food. if growing them to larger size faster isn't a priority, go ahead and take your time with them in the smaller tank, and then after they put on some more size, move them to the pond...this will also give you a chance to observe them for a while before you're left with primarily a dorsal view of the fishes in the pond
good luck and let us know if you have further questions----solomon
ps -- my apologies for sounding cocky or whatever else in the earlier posting, but it has been a common occurence that people will give advice on species they have never kept...and this advice/practice should generally be avoided when it comes up (or at least noted as such).
