Group of Gators

[E_americanus]

But we have them 6 footers swimming around the rivers and they don't.

Thailand does have some large introduced specimens...probably 5-6' long...BUT, as you allude to, we have the original gator gars AND they are clearing 8.5' in length.

NAmerica FTW reGARding Lepisosteidae --
--solomon

 

[pharmaecopia]

Some more pictures. Borrowed my sisters underwater camera and got some side pics. Forgive the crappier photos than usual. Most are of the two big gars, the other ones won't stay still long enough.

 

[HungDang]

Thailand does have some large introduced specimens...probably 5-6' long...BUT, as you allude to, we have the original gator gars AND they are clearing 8.5' in length.

NAmerica FTW reGARding Lepisosteidae --
--solomon

Thailand can have those 5-6' long, but rarely in the river, those that in the river is not native and sure are come from fish keepers!
8.5' in here still really rare, but 6' is a lot!

 

[David K. Bradley]

Truly awesome gator gar's, pharmaecopia. Especially the underwater photo's taken with your sister's underwater camera. Thank you for sharing with all of us. It's been very enjoyable.

 

[pharmaecopia]

I was bored today and have been focusing on my cubans a lot lately. Figured I would bump this and post some more pics of my gators.

 

[E_americanus]

great pics! i assume those are spawning mops you have rigged there? have you noticed any interesting activity with the fish recently? seems that some individuals (gator gars) have actually started spawning already in the south (reports just in this past thursday) - so some weird stuff happening.--
--solomon

 

[pharmaecopia]

great pics! i assume those are spawning mops you have rigged there? have you noticed any interesting activity with the fish recently? seems that some individuals (gator gars) have actually started spawning already in the south (reports just in this past thursday) - so some weird stuff happening.--
--solomon

Those are spawning mops there. I have those set up because they are very cheap to replace when the gars try to destroy them. Used to use plastic plants with a weighted base but they would rip off a couple stalks per day.

Tons of interesting behaviour, nothing spawning related though. Still have a couple years before any of them are sexually mature I think. Seems to be the typicalish heirarchy issues and how those change within the group. Over the last two weeks or so the two footer has now become the boss of the pond, stealing food from the big guys, nipping at the small ones, even tried to bite me earlier today. Other than that there always seems to be some sort of following of one of the bigger gars by the little ones. They seem to use the bigger gars for cover at times. The gar piles are interesting to see as well.

Within the next month, weather permitting, I'm going to be moving them to an outdoor setup. I think it will be interesting to see if the behaviour changes after that.

 

[E_americanus]

Those are spawning mops there. I have those set up because they are very cheap to replace when the gars try to destroy them. Used to use plastic plants with a weighted base but they would rip off a couple stalks per day.

Tons of interesting behaviour, nothing spawning related though. Still have a couple years before any of them are sexually mature I think. Seems to be the typicalish heirarchy issues and how those change within the group. Over the last two weeks or so the two footer has now become the boss of the pond, stealing food from the big guys, nipping at the small ones, even tried to bite me earlier today. Other than that there always seems to be some sort of following of one of the bigger gars by the little ones. They seem to use the bigger gars for cover at times. The gar piles are interesting to see as well.

Within the next month, weather permitting, I'm going to be moving them to an outdoor setup. I think it will be interesting to see if the behaviour changes after that.

yeah, i was going to say given your age info from previous posts that they all likely have a little ways to go yet before maturity (even for males, definitely for females), but it's always interesting to see how the behavior does change as they get older each year and with the changing of seasons.
my Croc II (~7 years old) has become more aggressive with spring (as he usually does, but it's worse this year) and is beating on the two smaller spotteds (perhaps because of his spotted half?), and the older fish always show a change in behavior.
you should shoot some video if you can! i'm sure you'll get some nice growth and pattern development when they go outdoors, have you done so in the past with this batch? again, great fish and thanks for the updates!--
--solomon

 

[Horiyoshi III]

Thats a serious collection.
Let's just say the parties would migrate to that room fast, were that here!

 

[Dav]

Love the gars, nice to see some one can house them aswell.
Dav.