Gar problem, or not

[Rukus]

New to keeping Gars. Just picked up a 6-7" Florida. Currently in an 80gl with 1 tgr oscar 5", 1 alb tgr oscar 5", 2 alb seng 6", 1 pang cat 4", 1 JD 5". H/she has been in the tank for 4 days now and the 1st couple of days H/she was fine, but now all H/she does is lay on the bottom of the tank. Eating fine, and tank mates dont seem to be picking on it. All of the chemical levels r fine and it has plenty of room to move around.

Question: Has anybody had any experience with a gar acting this way?
I know that the tank mates aren't the best canidates for the spieces but it's just A temporary place tell I can get my 60 fixed for it to go into for grow out before putting into my 180.
Do u think that the tank is a little to crowded for it? Thanks in advance for any feed back.

 

[Gar keeper]

Yes, Gar will tend to lay on the bottom at times. One of my Gar has a little bed of rocks and he'll lay there for hours and he's perfectly healthy, had him for about 5 years now.

 

[xander]

lying on the bottom is fine, the tankmates are not. are they the same mates that will go into the 180? if they are then it's highly inadvisable that you keep the gar

 

[Rukus]

Yes, Gar will tend to lay on the bottom at times. One of my Gar has a little bed of rocks and he'll lay there for hours and he's perfectly healthy, had him for about 5 years now.

Thanks for your info

 

[Rukus]

lying on the bottom is fine, the tankmates are not. are they the same mates that will go into the 180? if they are then it's highly inadvisable that you keep the gar

180 tank mates r
2 ornates
blk aro
elec fryeri
trg oscar
Just waiting to get him to a bigger size to be compatiable. I've heard mixed reviews on the tgr oscar. He seems to get along wth my aro, and other bottom dwellers. He's kind of a little overwelming when it comes to feeding, but dosen't pick on anybody in the tank. Just wants to get fed 1st.
Do u think that keeping him in the 80 for a week will not be good? I need to reseal the 60gl. I know I will have to upgrade him in the future which is why I was going to put him into the 180....please advise. Thanks

 

[Rukus]

Xander......
I was looking at your tanks on your profile page(awesome). I noticed that U had no Cichlids at all, But poly's which I've heard r ideal tank mates for gar. I also saw in 1 of your tanks a African Aro. I thought that these weren't compatiable with gars? Thats kind of why I thought it would be ok(maybe) depending on the exact personality of the fish, But just maybe my Oscar would get along with my Florida, as soon as I grow him out a little bit in that 60 I have to reseal....LMK, thanks. Just trying to learn how to do it the rght way. I really dont want to have to get rid of my Gar, or my Oscar.

 

[Gar keeper]

I really dont want to have to get rid of my Gar, or my Oscar.

If it comes down to that just ditch the oscar. The Gar is WAY better and much more fun then some basic oscar anyways. Once you've had your Gar for a while you will learn that there is really no other fish that matter besides Gar.
Well... maybe a stingray or 2

 

[shamrock]

That's funny a Gar more interesting than an Oscar!!
Let's see a fish that sits at the bottom versus a fish with color and that greets it's owner when he/she walk by the tank.

 

[Rukus]

If it comes down to that just ditch the oscar. The Gar is WAY better and much more fun then some basic oscar anyways. Once you've had your Gar for a while you will learn that there is really no other fish that matter besides Gar.
Well... maybe a stingray or 2

I generally agree wth u, however I've had my Oscar for a long time and really like him. I would just have to get another tank for him, if it came down to it. Switch him into the 60 when I put the gar into the 180.

I guess I will have to access that as the time comes. I really love the Gar and have waited a long time to get 1, so I'm willing to switch stuff around to accommodate him. I know that he will do fine with the Aro, and the poly's. Just a little concened about the Elec Fryeri, and Oscar.

I'm also concerned about keeping him in the temporary tank for a week. Just dont have the time to seal the tank right now, unless I stay up till all hours of the night. If I have to then I will though.

 

[Gar keeper]

That's funny a Gar more interesting than an Oscar!!
Let's see a fish that sits at the bottom versus a fish with color and that greets it's owner when he/she walk by the tank.

Yeah, my Gar waits for me at the side of the tank by the door and then follows me around. When I sit down he'll some up right next to me and lay on the bottom to chill with me. Please trust me when I say the Gar is 10Xs more acute to what's going on around him then some oscar.