Getting Gator Gars off feeders

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Sidrock

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 20, 2009
579
3
48
Bombay, India
Hello guys,

I have a couple of Gator Gars which i got on Aug 8, 2010 at exactly 4 inches each.

I am following the same routine I did to convert my baby (4") FL gars from Blood-worms to feeders to seafood. (They have grown from 4" to around 12" in a little less than 3 months.)

For the Gator Gars, at the onset, both have to be exclusively on feeders. However, one of them is more agile and just better than the other at catching feeders. Yet, both had grown at about the same speed in the first week: a little over an inch. This changed over the 2nd week and one Gator is significantly larger than the other.

From last Friday, the larger of the Gator Gars (who is now a little over 6") has started eating Jumbo Krill and small shrimp.:)

This means, I now have an option to move this gar to the "main tank" with the FL Gars and the Silver Aro. However, I am not sure if this will help or hurt the process of converting the other Gator to seafood.

Option 1: Move the larger Gator Gar (who accepts seafood) to the larger tank.

  • Pro:This leaves no competition for the smaller Gator in the grow-out.
  • Con: But, this eliminates the chance that the smaller Gator Gar would have started accepting seafood by imitating the larger Gator.

Option 2: Leave the two Gator Gars in the grow-out.

  • Pros and Cons are the opposite of those mentioned for Option1.
Please advise.


Thanks,
Sid
 
Leave em in the grow out, You will not enjoy having to feed them feeders when they are full grow LOL, You would have to feed them koi...
 
I would just move him over to the big tank but thats just my opinion. My Gar, I litterally just weened him off a feeders and he's the only gar. he's 10" and and not happy about the switch........... is raw frozen shrimp the best or cooked frozen shrimp?
 
All my gars took to talapia chunks like magic. It wasnt that hard at all. I have gotten my biggest to eat a few pieces of shrimp that feed my catfish, but he doesnt go crazy on it like talapia. In my experience when it comes to shrimp, my fish have always prefered raw shell on shrimp. If I even tried to thaw it for a minute in the microwave or boiling water, they wont touch it. I have to let it sit out and naturally thaw.
 
Thank you everybody for your advice.

I went for Option 1. I moved the larger Gator (~7") to the main tank, leaving the smaller one (~5.5") in the grow-out.

The larger gator was scared ****less for a few hours. (He is sharing the tank with two 12" FL Gars and one 16" Silver Aro.). But seems to be doing fine now (24 hours since the move).

The Smaller Gator in the Grow-out also took to Jumbo krill almost immediately after the larger gator was moved out. He is not eating in quantities I would like him to, but he is eating nevertheless.

Let's see how this works out.

Thanks again,
Sid
 
Sidrock;4415200; said:
Thank you everybody for your advice.

I went for Option 1. I moved the larger Gator (~7") to the main tank, leaving the smaller one (~5.5") in the grow-out.

The larger gator was scared ****less for a few hours. (He is sharing the tank with two 12" FL Gars and one 16" Silver Aro.). But seems to be doing fine now (24 hours since the move).

The Smaller Gator in the Grow-out also took to Jumbo krill almost immediately after the larger gator was moved out. He is not eating in quantities I would like him to, but he is eating nevertheless.

Let's see how this works out.

Thanks again,
Sid
Click to expand...

My old florida gar took jumbo krill the first day I got him, I hope this works out for you.
 
It's nearly 36 hours after the move.

The 7" Gator in the larger tank is now eating smaller of the Shrimps which the Aro and FL Gars ignore after they've had their fill.

The smaller Gator in the Grow-out has started eating good quantities of Jumbo Krill and has that big tummy after a meal.

I am going to let the smaller (5.5") Gator Gar get to at least 7" before moving him to the larger tank. (i.e. in another week or two :) )

Sid
 
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