My gar attacking my redtail catfish

[Fishman Dave]

If I could have all the money back on the fish that have died whilst I've been learning i would be a millionaire by now!
My guess is the red tail swimming in the dark bothered the gar who took a swipe to see if it was edible as Victor said. Keep an eye out each morning for any fresh damage. In my opinion (fingers crossed) your gar would not kill a red tail over night at the sizes they are.
add a small piece of slate over the forkerd end of the bog wood and your red tail has a place to call home and somewhere to keep away from the gar. remember, with those diamond shaped scales gars do not bend easily so don't turn so well and a red tail heading for cover should be able to elude him anyway.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

If I could have all the money back on the fish that have died whilst I've been learning i would be a millionaire by now!

You're a bit older and have been in the hobby much longer.

In my case, I estimate I'd get back $100,000 to $200,000... even though I started out with a 4,000 gal pond in the basement, 40'x6'x3'. That was 12 years ago.

 

[RTC_KEEPER]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try to figure things out on my own

 

[BIG FISH BOB]

Just FYI....... both fish will get HUGE!!!! My RTC is 11 years old and is 3 1/2 feet ( a meter) long and very wide......my gar is 10 years old and is 4 feet long. I had them in a 300 gallon tank for a few years....they could barely turn around. You will need a POND>>>>not a tank. I now have them in a 5000 gallon pond that's 14 ft. x 10ft x 5 ft deep. BTW your red tail could live for 40 years if he's well taken care of.

 

[RTC_KEEPER]

Thank you for the information, I already have a pond in my backyard that's about 12 feet wide and 14 feet long

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try to figure things out on my own

Your call of course but you don't have to be on your own. Please keep positive, constructive attitude and keep asking questions. You can ignore any and all stuff you find not helpful to you, including my posts too, needless to say.

I understand your reply about the puffers was not serious. I know Chinnavar meant perfectly well but your reply was as funny as it was fair. It cracked me up.

Anyhow, you can rest assured I will try my best to answer your inquiries and will not give you lectures or mantras off topic, whether you listen to me or not. You are your own man.

 

[RTC_KEEPER]

Thanks! I really think that you guys are trying to help me and I appreciate it. Sometimes I get confused about everything and panic.

 

[BIG FISH BOB]

I've had an RTC and an alligator gar together for the last 8 years. Your problem is tank size. The gar will continue to bug the RTC....until the RTC just swallows the gar and solves the problem for you. If you have a large enough & deep enough tank/pond they won't feel threatened by each other and they won't be fighting for the same food.....in 3 months the will be the same size. Just FYI...... my RTC is 40" long and wide enough to swallow a softball easily. My gar is 46". They are in a 5000 gallon pond that is 5 feet deep.

 

[Lovefish_127]

Damn! Ya I have a pond already but I wanted to keep them inside and see them everyday but they are still small and the other monsters will probably eat them so I think I will put them in a bigger tank(about 1000 gallon) first

So maybe you should also buy a 1000 gallon tank or put them in a big pond

 

[RTC_KEEPER]

Thanks guys, just bought a 1500 gallon tank but I dont know where to put it..... hahaha