Lessons Learnt
- Thread starter xander
- Start date
SITUATION: basically, it wasn't a fantastic idea from the get go.
- i've had an 18" gator gar with a 13" florida gar in a 120gallon -422- tank (for medium sized gars) for a while with no issues.
- i then moved another 13" gator gar into this tank thinking that it would be fine since the florida gar was left alone (the 13" gator was messing with the 6-7" gars in the smaller grow out).
- within 1-2 days, the 13" gator was attacked, blinded in one eye and i just walked in on the 18"er trying to swallow the 13"er.
- gator gars are seriously unpredictable, aggressive fishes.
- gator gars and success with tankmates are non-transferable, even with similar tankmates
Constructive criticism... Could have told ya all that would happen.....In fact have said it over and over and over.. You have seen me say this over and over... Advice just listen.... And move the dang SNG out of there now....
Also the behavior of the Gator is not "Aggressive" it is merely doing what it does. This is just instinct for the fish and it is reacting to a given stimulus given by the other fish to it. This stimulus reaction is what makes gators very "unpredictable".. Really to a trained eye it is not unpredictable at all.. It is expected. It is normal.
One night I went to sleep and forgot to put a large stone above the top cover. (I put stones on the covers so they do not jump out) I woke up the next day and found my 2 foot gar almost dried out on the ground. It took a few days for him to recover but he is healthy now. Today, the stones above the tank are never away for more than a few minutes. Easy lesson to learn. Do not forget to check your tank before sleeping.