Hey guys. My friend wants to give me a 9" snakehead. Are Snakeheads any good with gars? I have three spotted gars 7-8", will there be any problems between them? Something tells me a snakehead would like to munch on my gars.
Gars and Snakeheads any good?
- Thread starter Vulkan
- Start date
I'm on mobile MFK, so I'll assume you're not located somewhere that snakeheads are illegal
How feasible a combo that is would greatly depend on the species of snakehead. What're you getting and what is the size of the tank?
Also, you're only getting one sh right?
Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
How feasible a combo that is would greatly depend on the species of snakehead. What're you getting and what is the size of the tank?
Also, you're only getting one sh right?
Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
My tank is 150 gal, filled with only 3 gars, looks pretty empty atm. Im not sure what species it is, but it has two black lines on its laterals with yellowish white stripes on its back and an orange filled black circle on its caudal fin. My friend only has one. Also wanna ask about their growth rate vs gars growth rate?
Back when snakeheads were legal here I tried several times to keep the so called giant snakeheads (marketed as red snakeheads in LFS then because of their juvie markings) with gars, and for whatever reason and as strange as this sounds my gars would always kill them. Something about the snakeheads they didn't like, and they kill them but ignore any other kind of similarly sized tankmates. To this day, it boggles my mind. Keep in mind I tried similar size or larger on the snakeheads when I tried this. I watched Longnose, Florida, and Alligator Gars kill snakehead after snakehead. I even tried a semi-adult snakehead later, and my gars all ganged up on him.
However, several other people have been lucky with the combo... but not me. I even thought about recommending gar to states with snakehead problems because of this.
However, several other people have been lucky with the combo... but not me. I even thought about recommending gar to states with snakehead problems because of this.
Hope that doesn't happen in my case. I confirmed it to be a giant snakehead. Do gars grow faster then snakeheads?
Depends.
Aligator Gars can grow up to 36 inches in one year and then their growth slowes down a bit until they reach full length. Most other Gar species will reach the 12 inch mark in about a year and then the growth slows down a bit untill they reach full size. From what I understand the Giant snakehead grows about 12 inches a year, but what you have to concider is that they have the ability to cut a fish in half that is only 2/3's their size. Something to think about.
Aligator Gars can grow up to 36 inches in one year and then their growth slowes down a bit until they reach full length. Most other Gar species will reach the 12 inch mark in about a year and then the growth slows down a bit untill they reach full size. From what I understand the Giant snakehead grows about 12 inches a year, but what you have to concider is that they have the ability to cut a fish in half that is only 2/3's their size. Something to think about.
I want to try this combo, Im still getting my new pond ready its 11ft by 6ft and 2.5ft deep
I have 2 gator gar 10 inch and 2 Great snakehead 14 and 16 inch hoping to combine them. I hope things should be ok at least for a while.
I have 2 gator gar 10 inch and 2 Great snakehead 14 and 16 inch hoping to combine them. I hope things should be ok at least for a while.
In general Snakeheads are gar food until they reach any size then the Gar is Snakehead food or object of conflict. It is a very poor match and not recommended.
Its been a month now, and now problems at all. The gars and snakeheads are used to each other. I keep their aggression levels down by feeding them only dead food. The snakeheads are so calm they eat right out of my hand. Feeders only once a week, for a good chase.