I would like to add a Florida Gar

[cpm6t]

I would like to add a Florida gar to my tank.

The current tank size is 4' X 2' X 2'. It has 4 pBass (3" size), 1 Silver Aro (7" size), 1 FlagTail (4" size).
The LFS has 8" size gars but I think it is too big for my current stock. I would like to get a 3" size may be, put him in a separate tank up until 5" and add him to the main tank. By then probably the Aro will be bit bigger too.
I will be upgrading to a 7' X 2.5' X 2' tank as soon as the fish start hitting the 1 feet mark.

My question is is the Gar okay with my current stock? Please advice.

 

[Wiggles92]

No, it is not recommended to keep gars with any of those fishes for various reasons such as aggression (peacock bass & maybe the arowana), silvery coloration (arowana & flagtail), and slime-sucking (flagtail).

 

[cpm6t]

That is too bad. This is the one fish I feel like missing from my tank.
If I keep them together from the small size will I be able to avoid aggression issues?

 

[sbuse]

i have had everything but the flagtail with my gars. i don't recomend pbass with them untill the gar is very large 15"+ even then it depends on the bass. if it is aggressive during feeding like 99% of pbass are then no. my gar learned very fats to wait till the pbass were done before going to get food. my gar would have food stolen out of their mouths by me aros. that would make the gar jump and freak out. that could be perfect conditions for a broken back. i knew all the risks, but did it anyway. it worked for me. i don't recommend it unless you are ready to separate and willing to accept the gars death by your fault. my of my experiments with gar and others have been called the exception to the rule, but the majority rule stands at they will end badly for the gar.

my gar are now with gars, bowfins, bichirs and catfish. they are much more relaxed. when they were with the aros they were relaxed, but then an aro would push them out of the surface area. they could get all the breaths they needed, but not just hang at the surface for long.

starting small will only leave more hardship for the gar. it will be trying to compete for food while trying to learn to eat new foods.

after you transfure your current stock into a much bigger tank as that aro wont stay small for long you could get several fl gar for that tank. i have 3 in mine with 3 more growing out to be put in.