Longnose gar getting color!

[Gator]

Just noticed over the past few days that my Longnose is starting to get a bright orange almost red color to the tip of his tail fin. I've seen it before on large wild Longnose pictures, Anyone else see this in captive raised Longnose gar?

Its hard to get a good pic because his tail is always moving but you can still make out the color on the tip of the fin.

This one I put here just because I think its the best pic yet I have of him.

 

[E_americanus]

frequently happens in both wild and captive longnoses...particularly seems to occur in longnoses that come through into the pet trade from the south, but that could just be a sampling bias. either way, definitely makes for nice pattern on the fish, but tends to go away as the fish progresses toward maturity. nice looking specimen--
--solomon

 

[Gator]

frequently happens in both wild and captive longnoses...particularly seems to occur in longnoses that come through into the pet trade from the south, but that could just be a sampling bias. either way, definitely makes for nice pattern on the fish, but tends to go away as the fish progresses toward maturity. nice looking specimen--
--solomon

figures!

 

[StripeGirl]

I like your long nose.Mine is 26 inches and still has some of that color,here is"Pinocchio"

 

[Gator]

Nice looking Longnose! how old is he?

 

[CDickes1988]

Lookin good.

 

[crowxviii]

how long does it take for a 5" gar to grow up to that size? hehehe i'd like to see mine get that big.

 

[Gator]

Not long with good water quality and proper feeding. Mine was about 5" in July and hes 14" now.

 

[cudatim68]

Beautiful long nose Gator.
Do you feed them worms or minnows...or something else?

 

[Gator]

Feeders, krill, market shrimp, Hikari cichlid pellets and chopped up night crawlers on occasion. They do prefer feeders over everything else though.