Natural habitat tank setup: Gar´s

[Polypterus]

any possibility of elaborating on these husbandry protocols? anything out of the ordinary for the average gar keeper?

Well, I have some things I'm working on as far as Platostomus are involved (Can get to that sometime later) but really my point was that it is the development of these husbandry protocols that should be considered bringing gar keeping to "the next level"... It as always been said and I think understood that it is in this area the individual can help most in the continuing process of gathering and disseminating Gar information.

Aquascaping is not really an important detail as far as these fish go as long as it is satisfactory for the species. As my good friend already stated in so many words.. You really can not give a captive gar the same environmental conditions as a wild fish. even approximating in many cases is difficult.

I would be a bit upset and annoyed if this (aquascaping) was considered some type of measure to Gar husbandry. If your really interested in Natural or ecotype aquascaping then there are forums for that thing and for those interested. If this forum is about Gar then I would think it should be GAR that is the centerpiece.. not the tank they are in.

Focus on the fish..

I disagree wholeheartedly with the OP's idea that aquascaping is a measure of Lepisosteid captive husbandry and seriousness in keeping an animal. This is mostly aesthetics and not the core substance which is proper husbandry.

Now there is a whole different thing that has had little discussion and really no one looking at. This is using a tank layout, chemical and temperature profiles and parameters in such a way that it provides for the enrichment of the fish by allowing novel and unique occurrences that may stimulate the fish. This is a new area of research for these fish. Something maybe some of you Garfans out there can think about and even experiment with.

 

[xander]

Now there is a whole different thing that has had little discussion and really no one looking at. This is using a tank layout, chemical and temperature profiles and parameters in such a way that it provides for the enrichment of the fish by allowing novel and unique occurrences that may stimulate the fish. This is a new area of research for these fish. Something maybe some of you Garfans out there can think about and even experiment with.

you need to elaborate on this again when you have the time!! i'm more than willing to experiment with it, but definately not without some sort of guide

 

[Polypterus]

you need to elaborate on this again when you have the time!! i'm more than willing to experiment with it, but definately not without some sort of guide

This is experimental Alex I've not taken up the time to develop a guide yet. Maybe some of ya all can help me make a guide. I welcome your help in some of these things. That is why I persist on these forums. I'm certainly not here after all this time because I see no point.

I'll give it some more thought and come back to this when it is ready...

 

[xander]

sounds great, do keep us updated! this is something i've been trying to do on a more superficial level (hiding food, etc to give them at least some stimulation), but i'm sure you'd be able to come up with something more appropriate

 

[E_americanus]

sounds great, do keep us updated! this is something i've been trying to do on a more superficial level (hiding food, etc to give them at least some stimulation), but i'm sure you'd be able to come up with something more appropriate

i would advise, however, and i think Richard and i will surely discuss this more in person next time we meet up, is that experimentation with gar setups at that (at this point theoretical) level would have to be species-specific (or at least sister-groups), therefore the "mish-mash" of gar species that most of us keep would not be ideal for experimentation...a Cuban reacts differently to some conditions than a spotted gar and differently than a shortnose gar.

unfortunately for most of us (from a hobbyist perspective), we like keeping many different species of gars together (and even then we sometime like to mix the assemblage up with other out-groups).

the benefits are that there may be more progress made to more captive spawning in species-specific tanks, and maybe some more about behavior (although captive behavioral observations with fish that are so large in the wild are often incomparable on most levels). the draw-backs are that we'd really need to start keeping a large tank of all-spotteds, or all shortnose or all Cubans to start to get at useful information.

that being said, if you want to participate, start saving up that money for the big species-only tanks and then we can have you do some of our work for us --
--solomon

 

[Land Rover]

Same point for me Solomon, this is the level we are at rigth now, getting the bigger tanks and make the best possible habitat for our gars.

Just to clearyfy. I belive that thoose who speak in this thread know all about filters and water quallity due the the skill as aquaist so let os take one step up and look in to the hole experimentel part that will come in the future.

This is experimental Alex I've not taken up the time to develop a guide yet. Maybe some of ya all can help me make a guide. I welcome your help in some of these things. That is why I persist on these forums. I'm certainly not here after all this time because I see no point.

I'll give it some more thought and come back to this when it is ready...

I think this thread has been growing in the rigth dirrection. As it turns out we actually agree on most of the things regarding tanks ect. (as I read it we are saying the same thing but in a different way)

Just one thing about all this. It is very interesesting to learn more about the gars and as long as we all know and agrees that having gars as a hobby will never be the same for the gars in the wild. But that said we can still make a very good and secure life for them as long as we keep to "the code" no reason to be fanatic (experimental: if you start to cut gars up I will freak out! )

More or less we are all on the same page but still always one apinion away. Nice debate gyes keep it up and let os learn some more gar stuff

 

[Polypterus]

i would advise, however, and i think Richard and i will surely discuss this more in person next time we meet up, is that experimentation with gar setups at that (at this point theoretical) level would have to be species-specific (or at least sister-groups), therefore the "mish-mash" of gar species that most of us keep would not be ideal for experimentation...a Cuban reacts differently to some conditions than a spotted gar and differently than a shortnose gar.

unfortunately for most of us (from a hobbyist perspective), we like keeping many different species of gars together (and even then we sometime like to mix the assemblage up with other out-groups).

the benefits are that there may be more progress made to more captive spawning in species-specific tanks, and maybe some more about behavior (although captive behavioral observations with fish that are so large in the wild are often incomparable on most levels). the draw-backs are that we'd really need to start keeping a large tank of all-spotteds, or all shortnose or all Cubans to start to get at useful information.

that being said, if you want to participate, start saving up that money for the big species-only tanks and then we can have you do some of our work for us --
--solomon

And this is one of the key challenges to experimental research. you must remove other variables that will effect the fish and give you false data. So yeah this would have to be done on a species specific / group level in order to have defined information that could be useful. This type of work is what I was eluding to above in mentioning Platostomus and I have been toying with it in the Atractosteus group as well on both individual, group and interspecies levels.

For a background on this stuff and the benefits of looking into it read this paper.
http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/6140/1/0b014e66-3473-46ca-a5d3-c1b6521006af.pdf
It really does not focus on fish but it will give you an idea of what this is.

no reason to be fanatic (experimental: if you start to cut gars up I will freak out! )

And here I was thinking of posting videos of dremel tool use in extracting otiliths in alligator gar for aging.

 

[Conner]

And here I was thinking of posting videos of dremel tool use in extracting otiliths in alligator gar for aging.

Dude, I never thought of using a Dremel! All I had to work with was a sharp knife. Nothing like cutting through bone and brain with brute force alone... Got quite messy sometimes (I've never done this on gar, only saltwater fish).

 

[Land Rover]

........

 

[Land Rover]

........

Sorry dude. Ill pass on this one. Reaserch like this leaves little time to enjoy the hobby an when it comes down to it you wont have changed enything afterall.

My point... Some people just need to step up regarding their gar tank.

The End..