Gar needs a home - compatibility question

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
C

CTU2fan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 12, 2007
3,123
3
0
Port Orange, FL
OK gar pros :) got a question for you. A co-worker of mine has a Florida gar (well he says it's a Florida anyway) that's a bit over 1' long, it's in a 55G and he says it's too big (ya think?) and he wants me to take it. Now my tank is nearly 170G but it's only 18" wide so it won't be enough for the gar for life, but I'm thinking it should be OK for a year or so and I'm considering a pond so my tank wouldn't be its permanent home (and would be better than the 55 anyway).

But here's the problem...I've been looking for a pinktail chalceus for over a year now, and my LFS just got one traded in by another keeper (along with about a dozen other fish including some poly's). LFS kind of jerked me around re: the fish being for sale or not (I'm thinking one of the workers had his eye on one/some of the fish and wanted first pick) and I'm supposed to check back with them re: when they're for sale & price. The chal is about 6-7" and the poly's are all around 8" (looked like senegals and palmas) and I'm wondering if they'd be safe with the gar. If I can't get the chal I'll take the gar, but I don't want to pass up the chal so if I can get it and the gar will eat it then I can't take the gar. Just wondering if it would be safe...I would think it would be but with elongated fish I'm worried that the gar could possibly eat them.
 
CTU2fan;1685291; said:
OK gar pros :) got a question for you. A co-worker of mine has a Florida gar (well he says it's a Florida anyway) that's a bit over 1' long, it's in a 55G and he says it's too big (ya think?) and he wants me to take it. Now my tank is nearly 170G but it's only 18" wide so it won't be enough for the gar for life, but I'm thinking it should be OK for a year or so and I'm considering a pond so my tank wouldn't be its permanent home (and would be better than the 55 anyway).

But here's the problem...I've been looking for a pinktail chalceus for over a year now, and my LFS just got one traded in by another keeper (along with about a dozen other fish including some poly's). LFS kind of jerked me around re: the fish being for sale or not (I'm thinking one of the workers had his eye on one/some of the fish and wanted first pick) and I'm supposed to check back with them re: when they're for sale & price. The chal is about 6-7" and the poly's are all around 8" (looked like senegals and palmas) and I'm wondering if they'd be safe with the gar. If I can't get the chal I'll take the gar, but I don't want to pass up the chal so if I can get it and the gar will eat it then I can't take the gar. Just wondering if it would be safe...I would think it would be but with elongated fish I'm worried that the gar could possibly eat them.
Click to expand...

if the gar doesnt eat them...it will probably try. with gar it is best to keep the tankmates roughly the same size as the gar itself.
 
Polypterus;1685341; said:
The chalceus would be Gar munchies... The polys should do just fine with it. Actually a 170 may hold that fish for life.... Good luck.
Click to expand...

if not for life it will hold it for a good few years.
 
That's kind of what I figured, thanks guys. Glad to hear the polys should be OK, I was more worried about the chalceus. I've read that gar are more attracted to silvery fish, not sure if that's true or if it's true of all gar species but if it is I'm sure the chal would look like food.

I might take the gar regardless, it really needs re-homing. Best-case I suppose is grow out the chalceus for awhile before adding it and hopefully it will be OK.
 
CTU2fan;1685423; said:
That's kind of what I figured, thanks guys. Glad to hear the polys should be OK, I was more worried about the chalceus. I've read that gar are more attracted to silvery fish, not sure if that's true or if it's true of all gar species but if it is I'm sure the chal would look like food.

I might take the gar regardless, it really needs re-homing. Best-case I suppose is grow out the chalceus for awhile before adding it and hopefully it will be OK.
Click to expand...

Yes, it seems generally true that gar are attracted to shiny silver fish. I put my arowana in my big tank when she was about 11" and my trop which was the same size at the time took her tail and a good number of scales off of her so she had to be moved back to her original tank. I don't think chalceus get that big so I think no matter what, the gar will outgrow it and you wont have much luck keeping them together.
 
Hmm...yeah I've never seen one over 1' long, I had one that was probably 11" give or take and it didn't grow much after that, so if a trop would have a go at an 11" aro than I guess I've got myself a dilemma.
 
CTU2fan;1687729; said:
Hmm...yeah I've never seen one over 1' long, I had one that was probably 11" give or take and it didn't grow much after that, so if a trop would have a go at an 11" aro than I guess I've got myself a dilemma.
Click to expand...

That's where you figure out which fish is more worth having to you...a tetra or a true monster fish ;)
 
Hehe...well, I took the gar :) So I guess there's your answer :) Looks to be about 14" or so. Now to get him on something other than feeders. The gar I had in the past would eat silverside and shrimp without any special effort on my part, and I'm thinking this one will too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom