Gator Gars only attack what they can swallow

[NocturnalX]

okay so i watched this episode of "river monsters" on Alligator Gars.
the show was kinda investigating the fish if the accusations on it attacking humans are justified. And the final verdict of the show was that Alligator Gars shouldn't be held responsible for the number of accusations because they only bite what they can swallow whole, and that leaves humans out of the menu.

but i saw something different this morning, as i walked towards the kitchen to brush my teeth, i saw my 4" Clown Knife in one of those few instances that he comes out of his hiding spot and breach the surface for air. and i thought that it really swims beautiful, and i know that the way Clown Knifes breach and gulp air and then swim back to the depths are always beautiful to watch..
so i waited for it, the thing is, right after the Clown Knife breaches.
i was surprised because something very fast just shot down from the surface like a spear and pounced my Clown Knife.
turns out it was my 9" Alligator Gar.

i tried to get pictures of the Clown Knife while it was on the Gators Knife, but i accidentally bumped the underwater camera on the side of the tank and it kinda spooked the Gator so the Clown Knife got away.

some pics.

this pic shows the size difference of the 9" Gator Gar and the 4" Clown Knife.
i was surprised because i was confident the Clown Knife wont be attack since i know its big enough even for my 9" Gator.

and these are pics from the attack

it's tail was already missing when i bought it from the LFS 4 days ago, i took him in because he was just getting bullied by the other fishes from the LFS(evidence with the missing tail and damaged fins, and i saw it getting bullied with my own eyes) and the LFS owner didn't seem to care.
now i don't know if i did the fish any favors by taking him in.

 

[RedDwarf]

Well you can't always believe what you see on tv. Fish in the wild don't always act like fish in captivity. And just so you understand, being on the menu and being bitten are two entirely different things. I would get that knife out of your tank if you want it to live for any amount of time.

 

[headbanger_jib]

gator gars attack only what they can swallow is not true, one of our members here had lost a gator that tried to eat a big fish and die of choking, the members name was ermgravy i believe

a friend of mine had lost his florida gar, when the gar decided to a eat much bigger tyre track eel, he is also a member here, his id is weylin.

 

[NocturnalX]

Well you can't always believe what you see on tv. Fish in the wild don't always act like fish in captivity. And just so you understand, being on the menu and being bitten are two entirely different things. I would get that knife out of your tank if you want it to live for any amount of time.

yeah the knife is on a different tank now.
my bad for putting him in a tank with an Alligator Gar.
i just didn't expect that to happen cuz i thought Alligator Gar's would only go after those fish they can swallow whole.

 

[NocturnalX]

gator gars attack only what they can swallow is not true, one of our members here had lost a gator that tried to eat a big fish and die of choking, the members name was ermgravy i believe

a friend of mine had lost his florida gar, when the gar decided to a eat much bigger tyre track eel, he is also a member here, his id is weylin.

now that's scary to happen to any pet fish.
that's double jeopardy right there

 

[SNRMADE]

I had a similar scenario happen with my gator and a gold ck i had a few years back. They were the same size as yours but my gar ripped the tip of the tail off.It may just be that clownknives look enticing! Just recently my 20'' Green Arowana mauled a 13'' Royal CK killing it.That happened as soon as the ck would come out of its hiding spot......boom!!! It would get nailed.

 

[Miguel]

You are not the first....

I'll try to find pix for you tonight

 

[NocturnalX]

I had a similar scenario happen with my gator and a gold ck i had a few years back. They were the same size as yours but my gar ripped the tip of the tail off.It may just be that clownknives look enticing! Just recently my 20'' Green Arowana mauled a 13'' Royal CK killing it.That happened as soon as the ck would come out of its hiding spot......boom!!! It would get nailed.

yes it's probably the color of the fish.
i know i read somewhere and watched i river monsters too that predatory fishes get attracted by shiny silvery stuff.
now we know better.

 

[JackDemsey0208]

aww poor knife, i have a gator gar myself so i have my own share of "thinking - my - gar - wont - it - him" lol i had two beautiful splendid snake head and stayed on my tank for a good two weeks, theyre good size and i thought my gar wont messed with them as long as i keep decent amount of feeders for him to messed with...next day theyre gone missing..and i was like i think i know whos fault it is

 

[zippybomb]

You said they were attracted to shiny things, I had planned to be housing a brown knifefish with a florida gar, maybe this isn't such a good idea......