Yeah I understand I just feel like I could give him a better home than he is in now (75gal breeder or something close to that) : (
Hmm, what is this?
- Thread starter bahamaqt00
- Start date
bahamaqt00;3938439; said:
likely can be better but have you thought long term yet? Your Talking about a 4 foot fish here, Suckers also going to be a big thick A-hole of a fish that does not care much for tankmates. Are you prepared for that? Are you dedicated to keeping one fish in a very large tank for a long time? It is not going to be a community fish you are going to have to keep it on it's own for it's life.
Can't get Bored with it you need to keep it... A 4 foot long killer of a fish that despises the idea of "tankmates".. Think hard... Gators are not impulse fish you really need to think about them and question if they will fit you ideas of a fish. You can not make them something they will not be so decide quickly what you want. If a Gator does not fit pass on it.
Perun;3940246; said:
I love this post because I asked myself all these questions...then I acquired the Gator Gar. I lost a fish I had for years because he ate it. Have bought and sold about 5 tanks that he has been though and even moved to a bigger place so he could have his own bedroom... It's been quite a task, responsibility and cost... but you know what? We're loving every minute of it because we get to house the most incredible freshwater fish there is. Our Gator Gar has become like a son to us and I love every minute I spend with this amazing animal. When I get up in the morning and turn his light on his look at him. His attitude inspires me to attack the day and be strong. When I come home from work he's is as happy as a dog to see me and I get to pet him, except I don't have to take him for a walk and pick up his crap with a plastic bag. This isn't your ordinary fish man... you have to be in it for the long haul. You can't be a ***** and give up after a year or 2 and try to return him, or let him loose or kill him. You need to be ready from the start for some serious ****...
Perun;3940246; said:
Just interested in the your mentioning of a "4 foot long killer". Why it can't be a 5 or 6 foot long killer. Does it imply 4 foot is the maximum length a gator gar can grow in a home aqaurium?
Good questions to ask myself. I know if I had a nice place for him and space to keep multiple monster tanks I would be ready with the commitment. But being in a one bedroom apartment I pretty much have all the tanks that will fit in here (55, 250, 400 that we haven't even gotten in yet) I don't know if I want to dedicate one tank to just him. If he could actually live with other fish that would be a different story. I don't know if I will ever come across one again but hopefully I do when I own a house and can have a massive tank just for him 
m245;3943689; said:
I never said it could not be a 5 or 6 foot A-hole of a fish. It could become one.. It is just not statistically average by any means.
What I'm giving is a statistical average based on a relatively large sample size of typical A. spatula in long term captivity across the span of some 10 years. instead of focusing on a selected few outliers that are exceptions, that are rather odd than typical, I find it more reasonable and useful to come back down to earth, collect information and apply it appropriately.
People seem to spend to much time on these oddball captive outliers or wild outliers and not quite so much on the Average median captive fish (or wild fish) which is of more general and realistic use. 4 foot is actually a bit above average with 5 foot being very rarely reported and 6 foot extremely unusual and exceptional in captivity for a captive raised fish.
Sorry I do not make this stuff up I just collect information, crunch numbers, and report it as I see it.
Perun;3949995; said:
If a 4 footer is above average for a captive raised gator gar, I think people should stop ranting about others not putting their gator gars in 20'x20' ponds. After all, there is no point in building an unreasonably large pond for a 3' plus fish.
m245;3951439; said:
I believe the old statement is:
"You can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink"
Some of us have been putting up very detailed information for years including specific data involving growth of these fish. It is however the assumption of many with limited exposure or experience that they get 20 feet long and weight 1000 pounds.. Focus to many is on wild maximum size, Hearsay or in some cases exceptional outliers that are not the norm. This same general rule goes for much of what you see on the internet involving lepisosteid husbandry.
That said, it is likely better for a majority of people to think they get 20 feet long.. These are not a beginners fish and you really should not bother with them until you have some Lepisosteid experience. They suck as community fish and are better off in the hands of someone that is dedicated, patient and specialized in them. They do require resources a bit above your average hobbyists means.
Perun;3952123; said:
most definitely agree. most gar hobbyists should be just fine keeping the other 6 species, and really there are two ideals (Florida/tropical) out of those that work best for the home aquarium--
--solomon
