Live vs Prepared vs Pellet

[KillaFish]

don't count on it, and again, i wouldn't suggest trying it at this point. most likely the number of rosies you are putting in won't consume all of the pellets (if any) and it will quickly degrade the water quality. i've tried this before in some experimental tanks and it's surprising how many feeder types (particularly store-bought rosies) ignore or don't completely consume pellets, etc...they end up just rotting (the wild-caught feeders, however, did usually have a higher consumption rate).

seriously, i would just wait until the fish is 6-8"...otherwise you will have to really worry about ammonia spikes killing your fish before he lives to get that big.--
--solomon

Ah I see, thanks Solomon. I was thinking of trying that method since I gutload my rosies with bloodworms and brine shrimp prior towards feeding. The rosy reds are/were pretty hardy and would go crazy over the bloodworms and brine shrimp, though I've never tried pellets. For now, I think I'll let him reach 8-10 inches and recommended by experience hobbyists here. Thanks.

 

[E_americanus]

Ah I see, thanks Solomon. I was thinking of trying that method since I gutload my rosies with bloodworms and brine shrimp prior towards feeding. The rosy reds are/were pretty hardy and would go crazy over the bloodworms and brine shrimp, though I've never tried pellets. For now, I think I'll let him reach 8-10 inches and recommended by experience hobbyists here. Thanks.

you can also probably save some money with your gutloading as well...if you are feeding adult brine shrimp to your rosies, they have very little nutritional value (feeding freshly hatched brine shrimp at least has the yolk sac for added nutrition and would be more beneficial than the adults).

if you are going to continue gut-loading i would feed the rosies just the bloodworms and skip the brine shrimp, but you COULD gut-load the rosies with a small pellet food provided it is done in a separate tank from the gar (this way there is no risk of uneaten pellets in the gar tank).

good luck!--
--solomon

 

[KillaFish]

you can also probably save some money with your gutloading as well...if you are feeding adult brine shrimp to your rosies, they have very little nutritional value (feeding freshly hatched brine shrimp at least has the yolk sac for added nutrition and would be more beneficial than the adults).

if you are going to continue gut-loading i would feed the rosies just the bloodworms and skip the brine shrimp, but you COULD gut-load the rosies with a small pellet food provided it is done in a separate tank from the gar (this way there is no risk of uneaten pellets in the gar tank).

good luck!--
--solomon

Thanks, I have a 12x6 small aquarium where I keep the rosies for gutloading purposes. I think I'll research for an adequate and nutritional pellet designed for small aquarium fush to gutload them along with the bloodworms. They also enjoy freeze dried shrimp, which I also use but sparingly. All in all, I am quite happy with the results as well as my gar's rate of growth.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

ill admit yall got to me alittle.

I still dont believe that pellet only diet is really the best way to raise a gar(or any fish) but i saw yalls point that they are really good source of vitamins so i started stuffing my shrimp and fish with pellets. the gar seem to enjoy it. we will see if it makes a difference

 

[KillaFish]

ill admit yall got to me alittle.

I still dont believe that pellet only diet is really the best way to raise a gar(or any fish) but i saw yalls point that they are really good source of vitamins so i started stuffing my shrimp and fish with pellets. the gar seem to enjoy it. we will see if it makes a difference

well I'm gutloading the fishes that I feed and my gar's growth rate has been pretty good so far.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

i used to do that, but i also gutloaded the gars. lol. i fed them a ton of feeders. gary(the gar i raised from about 1.5 to 2" to his current size on feeders) achieved his massive size in about 1 year. he is now 2 years old and has added girth but no length strangly

 

[MonsterMinis]

Like Lep I raised my Gar on mainly feeder rosy's and small goldfish. I QT'd and gut-loaded the feeders heavily on a staple flake. at 12" mine started taking pellets as well, as his tank-mate at the time already took them. 14" and she/he is less then 1 yr. as far as I know.

On a side note usually getting one of the fish in your tank taking pellets will give your gar something to think about. Mine converted w/ no effort on my part, he watched and learned from his tank-mate. Though oddly enough my guy will only take live or pellets, no frozen/dead. NLS pellets are excellent for stuffing into dead fish for feeding. I actually stuff nightcrawlers with them occasionally for my Fire eels.

 

[KillaFish]

i used to do that, but i also gutloaded the gars. lol. i fed them a ton of feeders. gary(the gar i raised from about 1.5 to 2" to his current size on feeders) achieved his massive size in about 1 year. he is now 2 years old and has added girth but no length strangly

How long is Gary now? He sounds huge lol.

 

[Madding]

How long is Gary now? He sounds huge lol.

I believe he is 17".

Scary how much I know about other members gars...

 

[E_americanus]

just wanted to add to this thread reGARding feeding and pellets...

in an ongoing experiment to add more pellet food to the gars' diets AND further increase the whole fish content, i went to the local Asian food market today and bought a pound of wild-caught frozen anchovies. i know these fish are pretty fatty, but i wanted something that the gars could eat whole (not gutted, filleted, etc).

after thawing i pried open the anchovies' mouths and crammed down several NLS medium fish pellets (they are pretty tiny, but it's a start). it was tedious, and i wasn't even sure the gars would make the double change-up of the new type of whole fish food AND pellets (not that they would detect the pellets).

anyway, upon introduction to GDII, the Cubans took the fish right away, and the croc II followed closely mowing down anything it could get a hold of. needless to say, the Cubans got their first pellets in quite some time, and are hopefully on their way to regularly getting some additional nutrition in their diet. at the very least the whole fish should be better than the tilapia fillets, although i plan on going back to tilapia and seeing if it is easier to load it with pellets (but cutting a space in the chunks).

just thought i'd report back on that...i'll be feeding the t-gars in the round tank (pictured in the media lounge) using the same method, only they are getting larger whole fish so hopefully i can pack them with several more pellets.

...now to order a pizza with anchovies

--solomon