New Gar tank, looking for good advice.

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Sean1900

Feeder Fish
Apr 23, 2010
3
0
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Chicago
Hey everyone. I am new to this forum, and I am also new to the world of gar. I am the proud owner of a gar that has yet to be ID'd (Most likely florida or spotted as he seems to have characteristics of both, but I will post pictures very soon), and I am looking for some good expert advice.

1) When I first looked into purchacing my gar, the guy who sold it to me said he would need about 125gal of water. Based on further research, I came to realize this may not be the case for a perfectly healthy life for my gar, and I would need anywhere between 180-300gal for a florida/spotted gar. My gar is doing very well right now, but I am looking to move him asap out of the tank he is in. Currently he has a temporary home in a (now I cringe as much as you do when I even think about it) a 55gal, no driftwood currently for his safety, and I figure he should be alright for two weeks (he is only about 9.5-10"). I have good filtration on the tank, water conditions are perfect, and he is perfectly healthly.

I understand the larger the tank the better, but due to the fact this is my first gar, what would be a safe minimum tank size for my gar? Is the 125 and actual risk for the gar's health, or is it just better to get a 180? or is that even too small?
 
180 should be fine for a Florida depending on dimensions. 125 is definitely cutting it close.
 
realistically your gar (if a flordia) in an aquarium will reach 24" so might want at least a 300gal with at least being 3 ft wide be not till its closer to full grown so you will be good foe awhile now so just enjoy them there great!!!
 
A 125g tank will last you a good long while, but if you can afford to go ahead and get the 180, that would be better (assuming it has a larger footprint, i.e. 6x2).
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. Now I have seen some tanks with arowana in the same tanks as gar. I am going to have my L-114 in the same tank as my gar, but I was wondering, if I were to put a Jardini in the tank, would a 300gal be necessary? Or is the concept of an arowana and gar in the same tank something that I should even consider?
 
use the search tool..u will find everything u need to know & more. u may also want to check out on gar-pleco combos.
 
Arowana's (any species) and gar do not generally do well together, unless it is a very large system. Pleco's are also discouraged, because they have been known to eat the slime coat off of gar, causing health issues.

One member here does have an african arowana with gar, and that seems to be an OK combination depending on the sizes of the fish involved, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
 
Conner;4106680; said:
Arowana's (any species) and gar do not generally do well together, unless it is a very large system. Pleco's are also discouraged, because they have been known to eat the slime coat off of gar, causing health issues.

One member here does have an african arowana with gar, and that seems to be an OK combination depending on the sizes of the fish involved, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

regarding the last part, i think this combo has not sustained any negative results in the numerous times it's been tried, just wanted to throw that out
 
I know that xander and I both keep adult African Arowana's with gar without any issues. I also keep Black Aro w/ gar, and again there aren't any issues as long as you are careful about the starting size of both fish and take growth rates into consideration.

Michael
 
my silver Aro(22inches) are with a 23TSN and 2 flordia gars at 10 inches the gars are smart give them some cover to hid in if things get hairy lol
 
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