E_americanus
perhaps Solomon can chime in on what could have happened? After all he is the real gar expert.Polypterus_36's Cuban gar thread
- Thread starter Polypterus_36
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- cuban gar
E_americanus
perhaps Solomon can chime in on what could have happened? After all he is the real gar expert.
So very unlikely the gars all rammed their backs into the glass walls and broke their back. Probably from water parameters. It seems Brad definitely wouldn’t cheat people of their money
The seller of these Cuban gars. His @ is chicagorays I think. I watched thebiggerthebetters YouTube video, he seems like an honest man after Viktor received two damaged Cuban gars himself
Yeah it's not Chicago Stingray's fault at all. It's something on my side...
Thank you so much for this. Have you asked Brad if he saw this or if he knows what this is and why?
This is way bizarre. I really hope this is not genetic. Is freeze dried krill all you feed yours? It may be too high in thiaminase, causing a shortage of vitamin B1. To test this hypothesis, I'd urgently presoak their feed in VitaChem or in a solution of vitamin B1!
Also, it doesn't look like there is much waves and shaking and tossing at the surface, which is good. I'd make sure the surface is not too agitated and the fish are not tossed by waves 24/7 and there are calm, sluggish current areas. 4x2 tank with two filters may be creating too much current, but from your video it doesn't look that way.
It'd be nice if you reported what exactly those "many" cuban gar experts like Hao said. By link or copy and paste here.
I find it hard to buy the water hypothesis but at the face value anything seems possible.
Sorry about this, really am. I just got 7 of these. Let's try to save yours and observe mine and learn together.
koltsixx how are yours, Josh?
Ours: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...-florida-gar-12-15.679353/page-4#post-8374649
Hmm mine is still in perfect condition. Since day one I have only fed frozen krill, I plan on changing the diet up soon. I did recently have a longnose gar with a bent back that seems to have straightened back out.
Is yours from brad as well? If it is, then it probably isn’t the krill diet or genetics, most likely from water quality
The reason why I brought up water parameter being a potential cause was because Polypterus_36 lost 2 Cubans too. They went upside down and lost balance. Cubans are probably one of the most sensitive gars when it comes to water parameters.
Thank you all for your input.
In my mind, having read all this, I'd say I only can think of the thiaminase, as I initially proposed, and the water.
Both krill and silversides have high levels of thiaminase. Skeletal problems are very likely when a young, actively growing fish experiences a vitamin B1 shortage. As I said, please, soak whatever feed you give your gars in Vitamin B1 solution or in VitaChem. This will easily and quickly let us know if this hypothesis has any merit to it!
Second, water parameters. We must know them. You must have these tests - by API liquid tests - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, KH, and GH. Also temp and TDS. All of these testers can be had for under $50 (all together) and quickly. We ain't got time. Gotta get them all today-tomorrow and test everything. If you are serious about fish keeping and wanna keep serious fish (and $2,000+ worth of fish is pretty serious), must have and use the tests.
Don't worry about embarrassment or anything like this. I'd suggest to worry about losing your fish, and about not learning, let it be from bad or from good. Look at my dead fish thread - I've killed more valuable fish than anyone I know. It makes me a bad keeper but I try to learn from every loss.
In my mind, having read all this, I'd say I only can think of the thiaminase, as I initially proposed, and the water.
Both krill and silversides have high levels of thiaminase. Skeletal problems are very likely when a young, actively growing fish experiences a vitamin B1 shortage. As I said, please, soak whatever feed you give your gars in Vitamin B1 solution or in VitaChem. This will easily and quickly let us know if this hypothesis has any merit to it!
Second, water parameters. We must know them. You must have these tests - by API liquid tests - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, KH, and GH. Also temp and TDS. All of these testers can be had for under $50 (all together) and quickly. We ain't got time. Gotta get them all today-tomorrow and test everything. If you are serious about fish keeping and wanna keep serious fish (and $2,000+ worth of fish is pretty serious), must have and use the tests.
Don't worry about embarrassment or anything like this. I'd suggest to worry about losing your fish, and about not learning, let it be from bad or from good. Look at my dead fish thread - I've killed more valuable fish than anyone I know. It makes me a bad keeper but I try to learn from every loss.
Thank you Hao. I didn't know this about the cubans. Is there a source where I can read up on this claim with explanations etc.?
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