Mixing gars with...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
D

djr83

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 3, 2010
92
1
8
Sweden
I have two questions...

1. I have an alligator gar which is about 50 cm, how big do the tank mates need to be to not become expensive food? I have a tropical gar and a cuban gar, they are 40 cm and 30 cm right now.

2. I want to mix a school of small fish with the gars. Are there any fishes that are too fast for the gar to catch or too small to be of interest? I want them to school so they swim together.
 
Here you go:

  1. I would not risk a tropical gar & a Cuban gar with an alligator gar, especially when they're that much smaller. That combination can work for a little while if the alligator gar is the same size or smaller than the other gars (preferably smaller), but that is definitely not the case in your situation.
  2. I can't think of any schooling fishes that would work well with the gars. Generally, it's best to keep gars with other gars, or maybe bichirs, AULs, and SALs; there are very few acceptable tankmates that will work in most, if not all, cases other than the ones that I mentioned.
 
Thanks for the answers.

Is it possible that the alligator gar will try to bite a fish that is obviously too big to be eaten? I guess a bite would have a high risk of killing the smaller fish even if it doesnt get eaten.

I thought a pack of schooling fishes would look nice together with bigger fishes, so I'm not interested in SALs or anything else that is big.
 
Problem I see is mixing a school of small fish, as you put it expensive food, you either do all large fish or all small fish. What about a catfish they have armor unlike many other fish? Question how large of a tank, that can help with picking some fish, me personally find some free Convict Cichlids and throw them in with a ton of rocks and feed them but if a few are lunch no big deal, if they breed and start to grow the gar will pick off any before they over populate the place. I have a group in with my bass :-)
 
It's about 425 gallons, 244x110x60 cm. It's brand new so haven started it up, the gars are in a smaller tank right now (all three separated). Not sure what I will put inside the new tank, pretty sure I will go with sand bottom. Other than that, I'm up for any ideas.
I have stingrays too, so I prefer not to use up too much bottom space.
 
might try something like guppies... as tiny as they are might not be worth the gars time.. and should breed like mice to make up for any losses. add some plants for them to hide in... and you'll have lots of lil color. anything bigger imo is going to get picked off intentionally. throw a bunch of feeder ones in... and on occasiona toss a fancy male... you'll get alot of color, and not feel to bad if the gar do decide to go on a guppy rampage.
 
The rays may or may not work with the gars; some people have had that combination work while others have had their gars go "wolf pack" on them & rip them to shreds.

MonsterMinis said:
might try something like guppies... as tiny as they are might not be worth the gars time.. and should breed like mice to make up for any losses. add some plants for them to hide in... and you'll have lots of lil color. anything bigger imo is going to get picked off intentionally. throw a bunch of feeder ones in... and on occasiona toss a fancy male... you'll get alot of color, and not feel to bad if the gar do decide to go on a guppy rampage.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea to me considering that guppies are cheap, expendable, and good gar food, too. :thumbsup:
 
MonsterMinis said:
might try something like guppies... as tiny as they are might not be worth the gars time.. and should breed like mice to make up for any losses. add some plants for them to hide in... and you'll have lots of lil color. anything bigger imo is going to get picked off intentionally. throw a bunch of feeder ones in... and on occasiona toss a fancy male... you'll get alot of color, and not feel to bad if the gar do decide to go on a guppy rampage.
Click to expand...

I agree, it worked with my Florida gar


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom