My new little monster.

[Mystus Redtail]

Fish is either Longnosed or Shortnosed based on locality. Spotted are not that far north in the river and are not really seen above about the middle of Illinois. I have some Shorts from Wisconsin that where very difficult to distinguish from Longnosed for quite some time. In fact when I received them they almost went into a jar of formalin to be vouchered rather than kept as I did not need more longnosed from that area. Two months later they where clearly shortnosed and not Longnosed. I'd give this fish some time but I do have a suspicion it is a Shortnosed based on what I have seen from them...

Thank you, I will keep updating with more pictures and information as he develops. I appreciate your professional opinion and experience. I will gladly hang on to this specimen whether he is "longnose" or "shortnose" as he is different from my spotteds, which I bought, and had been shipped into my area. Is there anything special that I need to know about that particular species that differs from the husbandry that my spotteds are used to?

My spotteds are kept at ~70F and fed freeze dried shrimp and krill, they also enjoy jumbo cichlid sticks and cichlid gold pellets. They will eat live, but the other fish in the tank eat any live food offered before the gars ever get to it. I am also filtering about 700 or more gph on a 180g and there is a powerhead with a sponge filter as well.
Thanks again.

 

[city_of_evil6661]

keep us updated.

 

[Mystus Redtail]

So its been a little while, he's taken on some color, and a lot of size up over 4" TL now. Eating like a pig on my guppy population. Good thing I have some big mommas who can keep up.

 

[ultimatejay]

Longnose gar.

 

[city_of_evil6661]

you have yourself a nice looking little Lepisosteus Osseus.

 

[HPIZZLE]

well it turned out that after all.
im proud of my self

 

[Polypterus]

Yep it's looking to be a nice "little" Mississippi Longnosed... Good luck with that guy.

 

[Mystus Redtail]

Thank you, it is really exciting to watch such a magnificent creature grow from the smallest size into a true monster.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Nice gar! Good luck with the little guy!

 

[Mystus Redtail]

Wow, he has REALLY grown since my last update 2 months ago, here's where he's at now, I'd say around 13" and a real beauty. Let me know what you think.