Hello all! I recently took in a 10 or so inch spotted gar. They had him for 5 years prior, so I’m a bit worried about growth. They said he spends most of his time laying on the bottom, and I have noticed similar behavior in my own setup. I’ve met these guys in the wild and in other aquarium settings, but I haven’t really seen this before! Is it normal? Is he sick? Still eating plenty! Currently in a 4’L, 3’W, 3’H pond with a good sized colony of platys and a tiger moray. Lots of hiding places
Rescued a gar, had some behavioral questions.
- Thread starter Brackish things
- Start date
Hello,
After 5 years I would not expect to much growth to happen anymore. He can still grow a bit, but nothing major. Laying on the bottom might not be the typical gar behaviour, but I did have animals in the past that did the same while being perfectly healthy. One of my first gars had his favourite spot on an elevated point with plantcover, he was laying there all day until feeding. As long as he is eating well and shows no other signs, I would not worry to much. And the previous owners saying he did that with them aswell, shows its nothing new.
After 5 years I would not expect to much growth to happen anymore. He can still grow a bit, but nothing major. Laying on the bottom might not be the typical gar behaviour, but I did have animals in the past that did the same while being perfectly healthy. One of my first gars had his favourite spot on an elevated point with plantcover, he was laying there all day until feeding. As long as he is eating well and shows no other signs, I would not worry to much. And the previous owners saying he did that with them aswell, shows its nothing new.
I think they were under feeding him, they said they had only fed him once a week his whole life
he was so hungry when I brought him home that I had to order feeders wholesale! I took care of quite a few at an aquarium when I was a teenager and they were all very friendly so I’m hoping to see some sort of shift with proper care, but if I don’t that’s ok too