Is My Tropical a SB or Do I Just Suck?

[pwmin]

I got it from the H20 batch at least 2 years ago and it's only grown like like an inch or two. My cuban is almost as long as it is now but nowhere near as thick. I'm sorry I don't have pictures at this time, but I'll post some up later today. There might be some floating around here from a while ago and it hasn't changed much, just gotten a little thicker. Obviously it's eating or it would be dead by now. It eats mostly sinking pellets, shrimp and tilapia filets. Has anyone heard anything similar from any from this batch?

 

[Angler]

Even if your parameters are good, have you thought about increasing your water changes? Is he still in your 180? What about putting him in your 300? How long is he now?

 

[xander]

wait it's 7-8" after 2 years?

 

[E_americanus]

probably just a runt...happens, and those gars are mass-produced on the farm, so this is bound to happen with individual variation. Richard has a TPG from one of the early orders that has barely grown either. doubtful that it's short-body, just a runt of the batch. short-body fish will show some abnormality in the body shape, which is usually quite noticeable.
the short-body SPG that i have is still only about 6-7" long and it is coming up on 2 years old--
--solomon

 

[pwmin]

It does look extra "fat", but maybe it's just because of its age and growing more girth instead of length and not an actual deformity. It's 13 inches right now and my cuban is 10, but less than half the diameter.

 

[pwmin]

Even if your parameters are good, have you thought about increasing your water changes? Is he still in your 180? What about putting him in your 300? How long is he now?

Yes, it is (actually a 210). I do 50% weekly, so it should be enough. I could try that, but don't know if it's worth it or not. It'd stand a good chance of getting beat up in the 300 by the dovii, pike and pinima.

 

[E_americanus]

It does look extra "fat", but maybe it's just because of its age and growing more girth instead of length and not an actual deformity. It's 13 inches right now and my cuban is 10, but less than half the diameter.

yeah, given that info i would say it's just a runt. not a real problem though, as long as the fish looks healthy and is eating/acting normally you should be ok. look on the bright side, you won't have to upgrade the tank!

Yes, it is (actually a 210). I do 50% weekly, so it should be enough. I could try that, but don't know if it's worth it or not. It'd stand a good chance of getting beat up in the 300 by the dovii, pike and pinima.

i wouldn't bother putting it in a larger tank at this point, it's very unlikely it will grow a whole lot more, and if it puts it under predation pressure of other tankmates it's not worth it either.--
--solomon

 

[Angler]

Yes, it is (actually a 210). I do 50% weekly, so it should be enough. I could try that, but don't know if it's worth it or not. It'd stand a good chance of getting beat up in the 300 by the dovii, pike and pinima.

Yeah, it's not worth it. He seems pretty content when I see him in the 210.

 

[pwmin]

thanks for the input. I'll try to get pics of it and my cuban tonight. I really need to move my Cuban to my 40b, but I'm partially remodeling my basement and don't have the space to set up larger tanks. Might have to figure a way to do it anyway, though.

 

[pharmaecopia]

I found your original post of the tropical gar, and in that pick it seemed a little misproportioned. Most likely short bodied or stunted whe you got it.