I found a place that i can get gars from and am getting a longnose gar from them thats around 5in. I should be getting it within the next couple of days. Getting the tank setup today, will be going into a 55g. What kind of filtration should i be using? I've got a xp3, xp2, and those smaller top fin filters that spill over the top, im just worried that an xp2 or 3 will be to much for him. And also what is the best option for feeders, i can get the feeder goldfish from petsmart or the minnows from the bait store. I can also go down to the lake i live on and try to net out minnows. Thanks
getting my new gar
- Thread starter GarGuy981
- Start date
I hope you have a larger tank planned for the future, as longnose can (in the wild) get up to 5'! Even in captivity, you're going to have a very large gar, and a 55g tank will not last you very long.
That being said, minnows would probably be better than feeder comets. You also want to vary the diet, adding in live or dead shrimp, small pieces of fish (like tilapia or catfish), small crayfish, and possibly eventually pellets.
You want good filtration, but not something that will blow the poor guy all over the tank. Just make sure there are area's of the tank that will have fairly calm water flow, and he will be fine.
That being said, minnows would probably be better than feeder comets. You also want to vary the diet, adding in live or dead shrimp, small pieces of fish (like tilapia or catfish), small crayfish, and possibly eventually pellets.
You want good filtration, but not something that will blow the poor guy all over the tank. Just make sure there are area's of the tank that will have fairly calm water flow, and he will be fine.
Working on getting the new tank setup and i have a few questions. First what kind of cover do gars like? I've heard that they like a bunch of cover, but i've seen tanks with nothing in it. Are they ok in a bare bottom tank and does chlorine bother them in the water?
Thanks
Thanks
i recommend you to feed him feeders minos, because they don't carry that many diseases as goldfish
GarGuy981;3340100; said:
You can add cover if you want, but mine don't seem to care either way (florida and shortnose gars). Some floating plants might be nice, just make sure there is plenty of open surface for it to breath from.
My 55g growout tank is barebottom (for now) and they don't see to mind that either. I have heard that you should cover the bottom of the tank from the outside, if you have an iron stand, so it doesn't look like they are floating over emptiness. Don't know if that matters or not. I prefer having a substrate though, So I'll be adding some 1/2-3/4" smooth river rock to mine.
They will appreciate some objects in the tank, as just a bare, plain, empty tank is probably boring as heck (to the fish and the person).
Chlorine will definitely bother them, just like any other fish, so make sure you use dechlorinator.