Gar not eating

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Licensing isn't the answer. Taking large-growing species off the market completely is not the answer. Everyone seems to want to point at someone to blame. The fault for the demand on these large species is the consumer. If we weren't a society of idiots that plunk down money for living creatures, without so much as knowing their basic requirements, this problem wouldn't exist.
Granted, some sellers aren't forthcoming with information since they're in business to do business but, ultimately, it's the collective "our" fault. The saying has always been "Buyer Beware". But, in this day and age, where all the basic information is readily available at a mouse click, there's no excuse for not knowing anything about the living creature being brought home in a bag.
 
well once again i was one of those people you were talking about. the gar turned out to be a florida gar and not an alligator at all. so as soon as i get the funds im gonna get a larger aquarium to accomodate him. any suggestions on a tank size for this fish?
 
Well... like it was said earlier, gars should be maintained in a tank at least twice their adult length and 1.5 times their adult length in tank depth. That would be a minimum footprint of 4ft x 3ft. Of course, providing more swimming room will yield the most activity in the fish.
 
ok thanks alot oddball! i was actually looking at a tank at a local store that has a footprint very similar to that. any advice on temp. and ph. ive checked a few sites but id like some first hand advice.
 
demjor19;622476; said:
ok thanks alot oddball! i was actually looking at a tank at a local store that has a footprint very similar to that. any advice on temp. and ph. ive checked a few sites but id like some first hand advice.
Click to expand...

tropical temperatures (78-82F) are fine for any gar, that way you can add some tropical tankmates if you feel like it (provided they are compatible with the gar and your system can handle it).

if you are just keeping the gar on its own, you can keep the temp at around room temperature provided you don't experience major fluctuations and it stays above 65F. for a gar alone, a temp right around 70-75F is just fine. a pH closer to neutral works well, but gars really don't have issues with pH as long as they aren't extremes.

i actually have differing opinions about the tank size for gars and how they should be upgraded, but i'll comment on that later when i have a bit more time. that being said, if you have a Florida gar around 18", there is no real NEED to upgrade to a 3' wide tank right now, although if you want to get ahead of the game and not have to upgrade for quite some time, go for it.
with smaller gars a stepwise aquarium upgrading system can work quite well, especially given the issues/hazards young gars of most species have while growing.

good luck--
--solomon
 
thanks alot. my temp was around 70 but i just got a heater yeaterday and hevae my temp set around 80. he seems a little more active today. but that info helps alot!
 
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