I have a Florida gar that is about 6-8" long and was wondering how to get him off of live? He has not eaten in 3 weeks because I feed my other fish shrimp and other frozen foods. When I first got him I feed him live once and then I haven't since. When the shrimp falls in the tank it will land right next to him or bump him on the nose and he shows no interest.
Getting gar off of live
- Thread starter catman
- Start date
My 12 inch or so gar(the smaller one) would not eat shrimp and etc also. He did not eat for almost 2 weeks, I could tell he was getting skinny. Then one day I dropped a piece of shrimp for the 14 in. and he barely missed it and hit the smaller one on the head and he moved around and picked it up with his teeth. it was a decent size chunk, he still ate it though. He doesn't eat daily yet but he does eat twice a week now.
Hopefully that helped, I basically starved him and then one day he got hungry and ate some food. I was in total shock, but extremely happy.
Hopefully that helped, I basically starved him and then one day he got hungry and ate some food. I was in total shock, but extremely happy.
give him food. dont starve him. if he doesnt eat the shrimp just give him feeders and try again some other time. it took mine forever to eat them. but now he does. get the shrimp to float. that might help. mine first would only eat floating shrimp now he will eat all shrimp. again dont starve him!!!! Just give it time.
Try holding the shimp in the top of the water but no so that your fingers are in, then put it near his face and move it away from him, as to simulate a chase. Mine eats whatever i drop in the tank, but when i just want him to eat something specific i find he is very alert and aggressive when i do this. Hope it helps
Lepisosteus platyrhincus;3272928; said:
I agree, try freeze dried krill. This worked for all 4 of my gars. I think the floating part was the key.
I recommend freeze dried krill as well. This was the first food my gar would take besides live. I think it helps that its orange, and floats on the surface. They seem a little less adept at grabbing things off the bottom than off the surface. One he is eating krill, cut shrimp or tilapia fillet into pieces about the same size as krill or a little larger, and start feeding that along side the krill. Hopefully he'll recognize that its food as well, and starting eating it too.
I agree, it shouldn't be necessary to starve them more than a day or two (I didn't have to). Once they're hungry, they should eat. Maybe just limit the food so that he doesn't get as much, and is still hungry the next time you feed.
I agree, it shouldn't be necessary to starve them more than a day or two (I didn't have to). Once they're hungry, they should eat. Maybe just limit the food so that he doesn't get as much, and is still hungry the next time you feed.
Well in my case starving him worked, not saying it was the best idea, but I did it and it worked. Maybe he will be stunted to an extent, IDK we shall see. Either way I think I did the right thing. I wasn't doing feeders, I'm not even risking that at all, and he wouldn't eat anything. Do what others said though, I'm sure it's much easier. 
packer43064;3273438; said:Well in my case starving him worked, not saying it was the best idea, but I did it and it worked. Maybe he will be stunted to an extent, IDK we shall see. Either way I think I did the right thing. I wasn't doing feeders, I'm not even risking that at all, and he wouldn't eat anything. Do what others said though, I'm sure it's much easier.
I don't think starving for 2 weeks would be too bad for them. I'd think they could end up starving for that long or longer in the wild sometimes. And they're not likely to lose too much weight over that time. It's just better not to risk it with a juvenile fish, when they're in the middle of their initial growing phase.