not sure what to do with my gar

[syddakyd]

btw i have two painted turtles in a 125 filled almost to the top with rocks/hiding places/driftwood (with parts emerging for basking w/ a light).

now would i try that in a 30g with nothing but a filter/heater? hell na... lol

 

[Conner]

sweeping generalizations in this thread. granted if i starve my turtles for 2 weeks im sure they will have to try to attack the fish but common sense prevails over all.

im wondering who here is recycling information or who has personal experience


proper research, tank size, tankmates, species of turtles, food types/amount giving will all be a factor.


i am going to give my gar to this store that houses larger fish, but i will replace it with smaller fish such as "friendlier" cichlids and tiger barbs.

You just made our entire point with this statement right here. If you try to drop a turtle in a small tank with other fish, no matter how well fed he is, he will almost certainly, eventually, takes bites out of other fish if he can catch them.

In larger tanks, this is less likely, and its even less likely to happen if you choose the right tank mates. That was what we were pointing out. Considering the behavioral habits of gars and turtles, those two are potentially a bad combination in the wrong type of habitat (i.e. a tank not large enough to provide each ample room to avoid the other).

I'm glad you decided to trade it in. It will be better off in a tank that is large enough to accommodate its future size.

 

[syddakyd]

You just made our entire point with this statement right here. If you try to drop a turtle in a small tank with other fish, no matter how well fed he is, he will almost certainly, eventually, takes bites out of other fish if he can catch them.

In larger tanks, this is less likely, and its even less likely to happen if you choose the right tank mates. That was what we were pointing out.

that is what my point was lol . you guys were pretty much saying it will never work in an aquarium only a pond...but i pointed out....


and the only problem i have with the gar is it's eventual tank size. research showed me they average out at 18 inches in captivity no matter what the tank size... but in the wild usually no more then 3 ft although there are a few exceptions.



also i forgot to mention part of the reason i may have excellent success with turtle/fish combo. is that i work in a seafood restaurant so i have access to all different types of fish/shellfish that has never been frozen...and obviously fruits and veggies. im not feeding just pellets (actually i dont even feed pellets). and i go to the pond by my house to collect duckweed which they love.

 

[Conner]

that is what my point was lol . you guys were pretty much saying it will never work in an aquarium only a pond...but i pointed out....

and the only problem i have with the gar is it's eventual tank size. research showed me they average out at 18 inches in captivity no matter what the tank size... but in the wild usually no more then 3 ft although there are a few exceptions.

I never said it can't work in an aquarium, I said most aquariums are too small for the combination to work, and it depends on the combination of fish. In that we agree.

Even in captivity, gars can/will get bigger than 18", as long as they're provided adequate room to grow. The exceptions will be gar that are kept in too small of tanks that become stunted. I think part of it is that growth slows considerably at 12", and probably slows even further around 18-20", so any growth after that point takes so long, most people don't notice, or have the gar long enough to see more growth.