Minimum tank for a florida gar?

[demjor19]

i completely agree, with gars (except when they are juvis) the more room the better.

good point...my recommendation is based on an adult gar since this thread is about keeping one for life, but it is good to step gar up and not just put any size gar in a 180 or better tank....

 

[xander]

24" width is fine for many years if not for life (mine really slowed growth at about 17-18inches).

mine got to 17" in a year.

 

[city_of_evil6661]

good point...my recommendation is based on an adult gar since this thread is about keeping one for life, but it is good to step gar up and not just put any size gar in a 180 or better tank....

i know the thread is about adult gar but i figured i might as well throw the juvi thing out there. in fact i just moved my fiances juvi longnose that she caught into the 55g (little guy is already 9" long). so i figured with him being as long as the florida, who for some reason hasnt been growing much lately, that he was ready to be moved. but for a mature fish i reccomend the width of the tank to be atleast 3-4'.

 

[franchise513]

alright thanks could the gar share the tank some dats amd i dont know what else im going to put with them ill look for some fish and ask you guys

 

[city_of_evil6661]

alright thanks could the gar share the tank some dats amd i dont know what else im going to put with them ill look for some fish and ask you guys

i dont know that much about dats but my guess is no.

 

[demjor19]

alright thanks could the gar share the tank some dats amd i dont know what else im going to put with them ill look for some fish and ask you guys

I think i remember hearing of a few reputable members on here that have successfully kept Dats and gar together. Use extreme caution anytime you mix tankmates though...it can really be hit and miss.

 

[E_americanus]

i know the thread is about adult gar but i figured i might as well throw the juvi thing out there. in fact i just moved my fiances juvi longnose that she caught into the 55g (little guy is already 9" long). so i figured with him being as long as the florida, who for some reason hasnt been growing much lately, that he was ready to be moved. but for a mature fish i reccomend the width of the tank to be atleast 3-4'.

maturity of fish won't really be known without age of the fish, and a 4' wide tank is actually overkill for a captive-raised Florida gar, but if you can afford it, go for it...but i would hardly say it's required.

as for datnoids, they will vary with the individual as is so often the case with pred tanks. i've kept indos and silvers with gars with no problems, they just need to be at the size where they can't be swallowed. keep an eye on the combo, and generally at the first or second sign of trouble, i would separate them as i have not seen problems with dats really work themselves out over time.

good luck--
--solomon

 

[pwmin]

currently, I have a 13" FL/spotted in with 3 dats (7" NTT, 8" AT, 5" IT). they've been together since I got the gar (minus the recent addition of the IT). However, I've had super good luck with tankmates with my gar (cichlids, etc. also), so I may be a bad example.

 

[franchise513]

alright thanks guys, i think im going to try it, and if there is any tension, the dats will be out. Could i mix some ornate birchirs in with that tank i think that would be an AWESOME looking tank!!

 

[pwmin]

bichirs usually do well, but some ornates can be nippy, so watch it.