help with gar info....

[ermgravy]

hey guys. i want a gar, i really like the what i read about short nose gars and how they look but, simply can not find one in the uk. seem to be a few alligator gars around... thats all i can find... what are my other options other than too mentioned. the most tank space i will be able to offer the gar is 8'x4' so figure that and the fact i wana keep dats aro's and lrg cichlid's in same tank rules out alligator gars???

if anyone ones where i can obtain a shortnose in the uk thast would be amazing too!!!!

Thanks guys!

 

[Polypterus]

hey guys. i want a gar, i really like the what i read about short nose gars and how they look but, simply can not find one in the uk. seem to be a few alligator gars around... thats all i can find... what are my other options other than too mentioned. the most tank space i will be able to offer the gar is 8'x4' so figure that and the fact i wana keep dats aro's and lrg cichlid's in same tank rules out alligator gars???

if anyone ones where i can obtain a shortnose in the uk thast would be amazing too!!!!

Thanks guys!

First thing is (if your not already aware) Do not take any LFS labeled fish as Alligator gar as an alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) without ID'ing it your self to species..Very few gars are ever Identified correctly in the hobby market and Alligator gar is a catch all for all of the fish.

As for the plan to keep one of these fish with Dats,aro's and large cichlids..You really may as well rule out any gar as none of them are ideal takemates for these fish and a shortnosed is definitely not going to fare well.

 

[DrZacharyus]

I beg to differ, my aro and gar were great tankmakes. Fl gar are very peaceful, the only fish I would be concerned about would be something that could fit in his mouth as if it will be curious as to if it can eat the fish (rip Lima). Stay away from the Alligator gar as they are not for the inexperienced fish keeper due to the size that is obtained and the rate of which they grow.

 

[Polypterus]

I beg to differ, my aro and gar were great tankmakes. Fl gar are very peaceful, the only fish I would be concerned about would be something that could fit in his mouth as if it will be curious as to if it can eat the fish (rip Lima). Stay away from the Alligator gar as they are not for the inexperienced fish keeper due to the size that is obtained and the rate of which they grow.

You are making it sound as if the reason these fish will not mix is because of aggression on the part of the Gar...This is not the case.

The reason these fish do not mix well is the competition and activity of the other fish spooking or out competing the gar. Your right gars are generally not aggressive and are peaceful fish and this is why they should not be kept with spazzy, unpredictable, territorial tankmates. Shortnosed gar are IMHO not for inexperianced keepers any more than Alligator are..these are not easy fish to keep and should really not be considered a community fish due to their very skittish and quick to startle nature.

 

[DrZacharyus]

yeah the shortnose are very skiddish. I thought you were saying the gar would be the protagonist of the aggression. The gar is basically defenseless against fin nipping cichlids..

 

[Polypterus]

You really may as well rule out any gar as none of them are ideal takemates for these fish and a shortnosed is definitely not going to fare well.

This I do believe states well that it is the Gar that will not fare well...It is actually what I wrote.

But anyhow.....

 

[ermgravy]

ok thanks guys... do i have any option gar wise? or is it a complete rule out?

 

[Polypterus]

ok thanks guys... do i have any option gar wise? or is it a complete rule out?

With some adjustment tankmate wise a Flordia / spotted, or Tropical would do very well. Tropical would be your best bet IMO if you chose to have other large semi-aggressive fish in the tank, but these fish are very hard to obtain.

You could try getting a hold of Mike at H2O custom aquatics and see if he could ship the fish across the pond. He is the only deal in town that has them and not in Asia...

Good luck

 

[ermgravy]

ok wicked, thanks Poly!