New to Gars

[RedDwarf]

As to knowing what traits to look for, I would just go to the Gar Media Lounge and looks at all the pictures of florida gars that's posted. Don't always go by their pattern because it can vary greatly. It really just takes experience and seeing lots of them to get used to distinguishing the different types of gars. I'm going to second the suggestion of returning the gator since they grow very quickly. But I have to admit they are fun to watch grow and it will also grow into a problem if you keep it to long. This is the first time I have heard of a gator being labeled as a florida.

 

[MonsterMinis]

the tiny spots and the golden hue to the scales always gives gators away to me.. and the snout.. spatula's... well theyre faces look alot like a spatula... floridas ime have a more silvery hue.. and they straight black line threw the lateral line is usually a dead giveaway in juvies. Gators are always the "pretty ones" when you compare them side by side to me.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Sorry I didn't you were the police around here. Dude, you apparently don't know me, so back off. I used to maintain a set of farm ponds for the ambition of breeding Alligator Gar here. Um, I would say in most situations Alligator Gars don't belong in aquaria at all unless you have a tank that rivals a public exhibit. I bought it, because if I didn't buy it like some uninformed individual likely would and stick it in their 50 gallon at most aquarium, and dump it when it grew too big. In my case, nice he outgrows all my tanks, he's going into a pond.

For your information, my largest tank is 150 Gallons, however it has the dimensions to support the smaller Gar species.

Haha, easy there fella! I never said I was the police. Just asked a simple question, that's all. You are right, I don't know you, that is why I simply asked the questions that I did. I do have one question about your pond. Indoor or outdoor? If outdoor, is it heated to get through the winter months?

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

Sorry I didn't you were the police around here. Dude, you apparently don't know me, so back off. I used to maintain a set of farm ponds for the ambition of breeding Alligator Gar here. Um, I would say in most situations Alligator Gars don't belong in aquaria at all unless you have a tank that rivals a public exhibit. I bought it, because if I didn't buy it like some uninformed individual likely would and stick it in their 50 gallon at most aquarium, and dump it when it grew too big. In my case, nice he outgrows all my tanks, he's going into a pond.

For your information, my largest tank is 150 Gallons, however it has the dimensions to support the smaller Gar species.

woah... where did that come from

 

[tnaylorj]

Haha, easy there fella! I never said I was the police. Just asked a simple question, that's all. You are right, I don't know you, that is why I simply asked the questions that I did. I do have one question about your pond. Indoor or outdoor? If outdoor, is it heated to get through the winter months?

You acted like I was insane for buying a fish that will outgrow my aquariums. Happens all the time at every LFS. ID Sharks, Red Tail Catfish, Tiger Shovelnose, Arowanas, South American Cichlids end up in inappropriate aquariums all the time. People also eat fish, and this Gar will likely eat many as well.

However, I should have mentioned the ultimate home of this Gar, to keep the trolls off. He's going into a 1 acre farm pond. The pond will not be heated, as I've had no problems keeping Alligator Gar over the winter here before (Alligator are said by some records to have historically resided here, though it was likely an expansion of our limited Longnose Gar population). That, and it is extremely cost to heat that much water. The previous problem I had with this setup was a sever summer drought here one summer that dried the Gar pond up. I have since periodically increased the depth of that pond and cleaned up all the tree and brush growth.

Besides the drought, the setup worked satisfactory with Black Crappie (the Gar actually kept their numbers from overpopulating in the small pond), Bluegills, Fathead Minnows, Bullfrogs, Crayfish and stocked Goldfish providing a bulk of their diet.

However, I no longer reasonably think a 1 acre pond will sufficient for breeding, and it takes Gator Gars too long to reach a breeding size from fingerlings. That and my interest in aquaculture has largely been diminished, and breeding Alligator Gar was more of a naive ambition of my youth.

(OR) I may just later sell him to someone with a bigger tank. Nothing wrong with that either. I'm also trying to talk the wife into a 300 gallon plus tank, but she's already annoyed with all the aquariums in here. Haha.

 

[tnaylorj]

woah... where did that come from

Sorry, tired of the huge monster fish don't belong in aquaria unless you have thousands of gallons debate (however no matter what size enclosure you give them there is always someone that says, "that's too small, and too cruel" even if its better than most). Equally annoying to read how many sources say no Gar species belong in aquaria, and to keep them is to perform sort of animal cruelty. It's like talking to vegan trying to shove their beliefs on you.

 

[creepyoldguy]

You acted like I was insane for buying a fish that will outgrow my aquariums. Happens all the time at every LFS. ID Sharks, Red Tail Catfish, Tiger Shovelnose, Arowanas, South American Cichlids end up in inappropriate aquariums all the time. People also eat fish, and this Gar will likely eat many as well.

However, I should have mentioned the ultimate home of this Gar, to keep the trolls off. He's going into a 1 acre farm pond. The pond will not be heated, as I've had no problems keeping Alligator Gar over the winter here before (Alligator are said by some records to have historically resided here, though it was likely an expansion of our limited Longnose Gar population). That, and it is extremely cost to heat that much water. The previous problem I had with this setup was a sever summer drought here one summer that dried the Gar pond up. I have since periodically increased the depth of that pond and cleaned up all the tree and brush growth.

Besides the drought, the setup worked satisfactory with Black Crappie (the Gar actually kept their numbers from overpopulating in the small pond), Bluegills, Fathead Minnows, Bullfrogs, Crayfish and stocked Goldfish providing a bulk of their diet.

However, I no longer reasonably think a 1 acre pond will sufficient for breeding, and it takes Gator Gars too long to reach a breeding size from fingerlings. That and my interest in aquaculture has largely been diminished, and breeding Alligator Gar was more of a naive ambition of my youth.

(OR) I may just later sell him to someone with a bigger tank. Nothing wrong with that either. I'm also trying to talk the wife into a 300 gallon plus tank, but she's already annoyed with all the aquariums in here. Haha.

That's very interesting. I live in the same region and always wondered how they would adapt to winter months in a pond this far north. Was your pond natural or man made? For a pond that size, if man made, how did you circulate water?

 

[tnaylorj]

That's very interesting. I live in the same region and always wondered how they would adapt to winter months in a pond this far north. Was your pond natural or man made? For a pond%

 

[CrazyJ]

I am terrible at telling the species apart, but I can tell a gator from any other by the width of the snout. The gators look like gators.

 

[jus243]

why cant i come across a fish mislabeled like this one lol