PVC pipe and gar(s)

[screaminleeman]

Hi,

I lost the Florida gar that I had in my outdoor GarDen a couple of days ago. I have no idea whether it was the cause or just a strange coincident, but I might as well ask. I had another Florida gar die a couple of months ago and end up in exactly the same place.

I found in both cases that the Gars were dead inside of PVC pipes at the bottom of the tank for other fish in the tank. In neither case did it appear as though the diameter of the PVC pipe was small enough for the gar to actually get stuck in. Do you think that the PVC pipes caused the death(s) of the two gar, or just a strange coincidence that both gar chose the PVC pipe in their tanks as a space for their final resting place at their death from other causes?

I have read that Bichirs make excellent tankmates with gars, and have yet to keep a bichir that did not seem addicted to the PVC tubing. This being the case I would imagine that a good number of MFKer's keeping bichirs with gars have had success with gar in a tank containing PVC tubing,

Does anyone have any feedback on the topic of PVC pipe within a gar tank?

 

[Madding]

Interesting. I can't imagine them not knowing to get out as needed, and you said it's easily wide enough for them. Maybe it's just a coincidence and the current/other fish are pushing them around until they wind up in there. Unless they are somehow drowning because of the PVC... seems doubtful though?

 

[yo_fish_boi]

are the pvc long?
i keep gars and bichirs,and they do get along.but i'm not sure about pvc for bichirs.i have never tried it nor the idea entered my mind.for me(having kept bichirs and bred them),pvc's are not that essential.a good rock or any ornament that a bichir can hide behind is good enough.i have even kept bichirs on a bare tank with no problems.
This is just my opinion though..

 

[screaminleeman]

Interesting. I can't imagine them not knowing to get out as needed, and you said it's easily wide enough for them. Maybe it's just a coincidence and the current/other fish are pushing them around until they wind up in there. Unless they are somehow drowning because of the PVC... seems doubtful though?

The two PVC pipes were 2" diameter. The two florida gars were roughly 1 3/4" in diameter. they were close to the size of the pipe, but were not "wedged" in touching all inner walls of the pipe. In both cases the PVC pipes were around a foot long and the gars heads and tails hung outside of the pipe ends.

The weirder part is that in both cases I did water tests and the GarDen and the indoor 135 both read zero ammonia & nitrite. The GarDen was around 30 nitrate while the indoor 135 was at closer to 40. These water parameters should not have caused this. Both gar I considered extremely healthy, neither showed any external signs of stress, or seemed to be acting wierdly prior to being found dead in PVC.

 

[MonsterMinis]

tbh not sure if it's the diameter or not.. I have 6" PVC tubes in w/ my gar and fire eels.. and they all seem to enjoy resting in or in the gars case atop the pipe... but the diameter is nowhere near as restrictive.. I think it might be possible the gar where getting stuck.. imo I would upgrade the pipes to 4" or 6" if only for a peace of mind. at 1/4" "wiggle room" the gar may have gotten incapacitated and incapable of swimming out. though it's also possible it was the "safest place" to die.. though I think you would see signs of aggressive behavior ( cuts, shred fins, ect)