Over Wintering Gator Gar Outside?

[Thekid]

I'm toying with the idea of adding a large gator gar to the pond next spring.

The issue I am unsure of is the ability of the gar to last under the ice if the pond is frozen solid. Because I live in a colder region the temps can be -20 degrees Fahrenheit for a week or more. Pond has two 8' deep holes.

The pond has 50 channel cats, 250 lmb, 3 triploid amur grass carp, and 500+ hybrid sunfish along with 2 pounds of minnows.

 

[Thekid]

Picture of the pondView attachment 1070121

 

[Oddball]

You might have a problem wintering a gator gar since you live over 600 miles further north than the gator gar's most northern distribution area. You'll have a huge problem if your pond's surface fully freezes over since the gar is an air-breather and must have easy access to the surface.

 

[Thekid]

You might have a problem wintering a gator gar since you live over 600 miles further north than the gator gar's most northern distribution area. You'll have a huge problem if your pond's surface fully freezes over since the gar is an air-breather and must have easy access to the surface.

Hmm. That's what I was expecting

I wonder how feasible it would be to build a green house cover over the pond.

 

[davenmandy]

Oh man nice pond!

 

[Thekid]

Oh man nice pond!

Thank you.

 

[screaminleeman]

You might have a problem wintering a gator gar since you live over 600 miles further north than the gator gar's most northern distribution area. You'll have a huge problem if your pond's surface fully freezes over since the gar is an air-breather and must have easy access to the surface.

I am uncertain exactly how that works. Is TS from Canada? The extreme southern portion of Maryland is the northern most Cyprus "swamp" and is a natural habitat for gator gars.

I do have numerous springs feeding my pond, and it has never 100% frozen over entirely since I moved in 1979.

With that said, I have failed all 22 times attempting to stock Florida gars (All well over 12") into this pond. At the same time, I have yet to fail in the same pond with the longnose gars I have stocked.

I put one 11" Gator Gar into the pond this spring, and am keeping my fingers crossed.

IMO T.S. biggest challenge will be the metabolism of the gator gar vs that of the other natural predators in his or her area.

The Florida gars neither died of frozen temperature or of suffocation. They go dormant in my central Maryland pond a couple of weeks before local Snapping Turtles hibernate.

I don't have a snowflakes chance in Hades of Florida gar in my central MD pond as a result.

Bowfins and LNG both outlast the Snappers in cold and have NO PROBLEM with them.

 

[Siddons11]

I put my gator gar in my 6 acre pond over the summer but decided to take him out 2 weeks ago. It took me 3 nights to find and catch him with a flashlight and net.
I'm not sure if they would survive a winter or not but I didn't want to risk it.

 

[johnny potatoes]

You could get a pond de icer. It'll at least keep a section of the surface from freezing over.