need info for first gar

[xxxamorexxx]

I would not recommend an Alligator gar unless you are very experienced, and feel like builing a 1,000 gal + fish tank. I have a juvenile right now, 9 months old, 16 inches in length... the "mislabeled" alligator gars are okay, but I have a true alligator gar..and he will be HUGE! lol

 

[Polypterus]

In Illinois spotted gar as the easy to get, I have 2 of them atm, both about 6" long now...Im finding the other kinds harder to get around this area.

I'm finding Spotted gar hard to get in Illinois... Only seen maybe a handful in several locations. Best ones I've got my hands on where dried up hulks run over by pick up trucks....

Oh wait your likely just talking about the Florida gars common everywhere in fish stores....

 

[Polypterus]

I would not recommend an Alligator gar unless you are very experienced, and feel like builing a 1,000 gal + fish tank. I have a juvenile right now, 9 months old, 16 inches in length... the "mislabeled" alligator gars are okay, but I have a true alligator gar..and he will be HUGE! lol

Like how huge?

 

[MonsterMinis]

I just picked up my second Florida gar this past week, and have had my first one now for about 6 monthes? They are really not much different then other species of fish I've kept.. in as if you do your research on their needs, and certain "quirks" they can be imo great pets. And deffinately an addiction... You can't have just one. personally i raised my first one from 4-6" in a 20L then moved him to a 40Breeder then now a 75.. he's grown to 14"+ in his first year. my 2 gar, 3 fire eels, and royal pleco will be getting a 180 + very soon, then likely a home-built pond.

And I can't imagine keeping either gar in a 75 or 125 for life. I agree. a 24" deep tank min.. 30" is ideal imo.

 

[KillaFish]

I'm still relatively new at keeping gars but my gar is florida and I've only had him for 3 weeks. He is pretty damn close to being 5 inches long now,I've had him since he was 4 inches. He's also gotten twice as wide as he was at 4 inches. From my extensive reading on gars, pretty much every species is suitable to be kept long term except for the alligator gar, since they can grow 6.6-7 feet in captivity within 4-5 years I believe. Every other species of gar tends to stay below 40 inches in captivity. However, Florida, Spotted, Longnose, Trops, and Cubans tend to be the calmest while Shortnoses tend to be really spastic. Trops and Cubans are also very rare to find and are really expensive. The longnoses and spotteds are relatively uncommon in LFS and most gars available are generally floridas. If this is your starter gar, a florida is good.