new gar, feeding strategys?

[skillzdatkillz]

I got a 10in florida gar in the mail on thursday and he hasnt eaten yet. Im not worried as its only been 3days. Ive offered him silversides and frozen krill. What else should I try. How should I try to get him onto pellets and prepared foods? Do I just starve him?

 

[jsodwi]

Mine took a while to eat at first too I waiteda a couple weeks when they didn't eat, I threw in 20 rosys or minnows whatever you want to call them. I would do that every couple weeks while trying to intraduse cut up pieces of shrimp in the mean time. Eventually they took the shrimp and now are animals when it comes to eating

 

[skillzdatkillz]

the thing is though there are pbass in the tank and they would eat all the rosys before the gar could get any.

 

[ethnics]

just starve them, feed what you normally offer the tank and the gar will come around sooner or later. he'll realize over time, everyone else is getting fat by eating whats offered and hes not. then he'll eat whatever u feed everyone else. even pellets.

 

[skillzdatkillz]

the tip of his snout is whitish, should I be worried?

 

[Polypterus]

the tip of his snout is whitish, should I be worried?

This is rather normal for a new fish....

On the feeding isue: You have only had the fish three days I really would not worry to much. Some Lepisosteus will eat right out of the bag but some will not.

My biggest concern is that the fish is being placed into a tank of Pbass before it even gets a chance to settle in and adapt. Gar are not active and aggressive fish, They like calm and slow environments. The fish is likely frightened and spooked out of it's wits right now. It will not under this circumstance eat right away or even feed for a few weeks. It should adapt in time but this is really not an ideal condition for the fish right on obtaining it.

 

[ospy]

I never heard of fish starving themselves to death without some other medical problem. Sooooo, I'd say "keep your shirt on" he'll come around. The guy that said just feed your tank normal is right. He didn't get to ten inches without eating, he knows how to feed himself. When you see him come to the top of the tank (assuming he's hanging out on the floor) he might be ready. But all in all, I wouldn't start worrieing for another week.