Spotted Gar acting weird

[demjor19]

I checked on my gar before heading to work an he was swimming. Thanks for you guys feedback. Like I said before "Im new to the Gars and this is my first one, so I dont know what behavior is normal". Good looking out

glad to here he is ok. in my experience the florida/spotteds tend to lay around more than the other species. my trop and longnose are rarely if ever laying on the bottom, but my two florida/spotteds spend about 50% of there time on there.

 

[West1]

Thanks. I just gor nervoul cause the 2 weeks that I had him he was active and then after feeding one day he was just laying around with no movement. I feed him every 2 days and Im going to space it out to every 4-5 days and try to get him on shrimp. How long do you think it will take me? Do your gars eat live or non live?

 

[demjor19]

Thanks. I just gor nervoul cause the 2 weeks that I had him he was active and then after feeding one day he was just laying around with no movement. I feed him every 2 days and Im going to space it out to every 4-5 days and try to get him on shrimp. How long do you think it will take me? Do your gars eat live or non live?

if you want to speed up the process...use a feeding stick. a piece of shrimp on the end of any long narrow piece of glass, acrylic, or whatever. i have actually used a very thin piece of wood in the past with success. anyway...once you have the shrimp on the feeding stick move it at the waters surface until he takes it. after he eats off of the stick a few times. start dropping the shrimp directly in front of him. after a few tries they will usually take the shrimp as it falls toward the bottom. i am almost possitive he will be taking shrimp after one night of doing this. it may help to fast him a few days before doing so, but it isnt always required.

 

[West1]

Nice. will do

 

[adamroque12]

ive also been looking to get my florida gar off live foods, ill have to give this a shot soon

 

[West1]

if you want to speed up the process...use a feeding stick. a piece of shrimp on the end of any long narrow piece of glass, acrylic, or whatever. i have actually used a very thin piece of wood in the past with success. anyway...once you have the shrimp on the feeding stick move it at the waters surface until he takes it. after he eats off of the stick a few times. start dropping the shrimp directly in front of him. after a few tries they will usually take the shrimp as it falls toward the bottom. i am almost possitive he will be taking shrimp after one night of doing this. it may help to fast him a few days before doing so, but it isnt always required.

demjor19 Right on the money man! My gar took the shrimp. I placed the pc of shrimp right up to his snout and snap! Dude ate it. After the first one I did not have to use the plastic stick to hold the food, he just swam right up and ate a few pcs of shrimp. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

 

[demjor19]

demjor19 Right on the money man! My gar took the shrimp. I placed the pc of shrimp right up to his snout and snap! Dude ate it. After the first one I did not have to use the plastic stick to hold the food, he just swam right up and ate a few pcs of shrimp. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

glad to hear this!

 

[West1]

I didnt want to star a new thread...
My Gar just stays at the bottom of the tank all day! The only time he moves is when its feeding time. But then he hurries back to the same spot . When I got him he was swiming and was chilling mid to top of the water. I think ive had him for about 3 weeks now and once the lights go out maybe half hr laterthen he starts to swim. My light is 18watts and is verry dim. Do you still think that my light is to strong? Or is this just the way Gars act?

 

[demjor19]

I didnt want to star a new thread...
My Gar just stays at the bottom of the tank all day! The only time he moves is when its feeding time. But then he hurries back to the same spot . When I got him he was swiming and was chilling mid to top of the water. I think ive had him for about 3 weeks now and once the lights go out maybe half hr laterthen he starts to swim. My light is 18watts and is verry dim. Do you still think that my light is to strong? Or is this just the way Gars act?

most gar are more active at night...it's just part of their nature. it doesnt sound like you have anything to worry about.

 

[West1]

I noticed that he just hung out right under my powerhead (bottom of powerhead was about 2" from bottom of tank) , so I moved it. Since I put it about 6" from the top, now the Gar swims back and forth. Sometimes just hanging around the bottom. But I feel better cause this is how he was when I saw him at the fish store. Thanks for all your input demjor19.