Sorry Xander, but I disagree on this one with you. Especially since I've recently been profiting from your knowldege on these guys lately.
*As far as gar's and their back breaking in a large tank I think it's just as likely if not more so in a small tank. Now my opinion is based on my Armatus's and there likely hood to do the same. They dart like a bat out of hell and can reach full speed in inches. Most Armatus are killed in tank cleaning accidents where they're already just inches away from the glass. They huddle in a corner and if you get to close will make a quick turn and slam into the back/front of the tank which is usually about 2 feet maybe less away with enough force to break their back. I imagine the same is true for skittish gars. My gars are at least as fast as my Armatus in a quick dart. So a tank would have to be pretty small to eliminate that threat.
*As far as finding prey items I find that feeders congregate at the sides of the tank in a mass so it's just as easy for my fish to find them as in a small tank. They have the same instincts as the gars when spooked running the length of the tank and stopping in cover in the corner's the gars seem to find them just fine. Not that it matters I'm a strong believer in converting all fish off of live.
*I believe and always have that the sucess of keeping fish is having the right kind of cover to suit the fish. I think gars prefer vegetation as cover and I believe this because I think it's what they commonly use in nature. Hiding amongst floating vegetation and vines along the banks. I know with my Shortnose they seem to have settled down fast since they have vine work in the tank to tangle up in. They dart into the thick of it at a high speed but are slowed trying to run through it and settle there until they feel comfortable again. Plus running through it seems to really slow them down making crashing less likely. Maybe I have the exceptions to the rule or maybe I've just been lucky so far, but they don't seem skittish to me. Maybe it's cause I do water changes every 2 day's or maybe it's because they're in a high traffic area, but they are definetly less skittish than my Armatus's right now.
Oh and Xander you did help me again, the bullet idea is a great way to express multiple points, so thanks! Again like I said these are just my opinions I'm no gar expert and I'm not pretending to be. Just hoping my opinion is helpful.
*As far as gar's and their back breaking in a large tank I think it's just as likely if not more so in a small tank. Now my opinion is based on my Armatus's and there likely hood to do the same. They dart like a bat out of hell and can reach full speed in inches. Most Armatus are killed in tank cleaning accidents where they're already just inches away from the glass. They huddle in a corner and if you get to close will make a quick turn and slam into the back/front of the tank which is usually about 2 feet maybe less away with enough force to break their back. I imagine the same is true for skittish gars. My gars are at least as fast as my Armatus in a quick dart. So a tank would have to be pretty small to eliminate that threat.
*As far as finding prey items I find that feeders congregate at the sides of the tank in a mass so it's just as easy for my fish to find them as in a small tank. They have the same instincts as the gars when spooked running the length of the tank and stopping in cover in the corner's the gars seem to find them just fine. Not that it matters I'm a strong believer in converting all fish off of live.
*I believe and always have that the sucess of keeping fish is having the right kind of cover to suit the fish. I think gars prefer vegetation as cover and I believe this because I think it's what they commonly use in nature. Hiding amongst floating vegetation and vines along the banks. I know with my Shortnose they seem to have settled down fast since they have vine work in the tank to tangle up in. They dart into the thick of it at a high speed but are slowed trying to run through it and settle there until they feel comfortable again. Plus running through it seems to really slow them down making crashing less likely. Maybe I have the exceptions to the rule or maybe I've just been lucky so far, but they don't seem skittish to me. Maybe it's cause I do water changes every 2 day's or maybe it's because they're in a high traffic area, but they are definetly less skittish than my Armatus's right now.
Oh and Xander you did help me again, the bullet idea is a great way to express multiple points, so thanks! Again like I said these are just my opinions I'm no gar expert and I'm not pretending to be. Just hoping my opinion is helpful.
