Is there a way to tell if a gar is stunted?

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billabongboy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 14, 2011
25
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Kentucky
As I've stated in recent posts, I recently took in a Florida gar that is roughly 12" long. Probably one of the best decisions I've made in regards to keeping fish. I've never seen a more laid back fish that at the same time has such a great personality. However, I've sort of gotten the feeling that it's growth may be stunted. I've had it for roughly two months now, and it's been eating like crazy. It seems to be packing on weight pretty well, getting nice and round. However, it doesn't seem to making much progress lengthwise. Any advice here would be helpful.

Diet currently consists of shrimp, pellets, and the occasional small bluegill or sunfish.
 
billabongboy said:
As I've stated in recent posts, I recently took in a Florida gar that is roughly 12" long. Probably one of the best decisions I've made in regards to keeping fish. I've never seen a more laid back fish that at the same time has such a great personality. However, I've sort of gotten the feeling that it's growth may be stunted. I've had it for roughly two months now, and it's been eating like crazy. It seems to be packing on weight pretty well, getting nice and round. However, it doesn't seem to making much progress lengthwise. Any advice here would be helpful.

Diet currently consists of shrimp, pellets, and the occasional small bluegill or sunfish.
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What do you have it in? Water parameters (temperature, nitrate, etc.)? Those two things will be a factor in properly growing out a gar.
 
Currently in a custom 4ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft tall tank (it was a turtle tank). Temperature is at 75 degrees with zeros as far as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia. Overall, it's really active, eats like a pig, and seems to generally be healthy other than slow growth lengthwise. Putting on size width wise lol. I could just be overreacting though haha.
 
billabongboy said:
Currently in a custom 4ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft tall tank (it was a turtle tank). Temperature is at 75 degrees with zeros as far as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia. Overall, it's really active, eats like a pig, and seems to generally be healthy other than slow growth lengthwise. Putting on size width wise lol. I could just be overreacting though haha.
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It should be fine; that aquarium is plenty big enough for it and the parameters are great.
 
1 more thing, what kind of gar is that? My guess is it most likely be a FLG, so at 12'' a FLG should grow fairly slow(like 1'' in 3-4 month)!
 
I only keep gators so I'm applying my gator theory.
Usually the head and tail is out of proportion to the body.
I rescued one that's stunted with a big head and tail. Hopes he grows again.
 
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