spotted gar growth rate?

[E_americanus]

don't starve this fish. look carefully at the gar, it's head is much larger than the body itself (proportionally). also the fins are quite crimped. this fish looks stunted. i would separate this fish from the datnoid (which can be overbearing with fish of equal or smaller size than themselves) and you already mentioned it can steal food.

the krill will work as a staple, but i would try raw shrimp or fish as well. starving this fish will only increase it's problems. if it won't take the other foods, keep going with the FD krill. increase feedings and water changes...go with 50% water change 2x a week and see if anything changes. keep us posted with photos if possible and maybe the gar will get back on track with growth.

again, don't starve this fish. and speaking of problems...gars are illegal in california--
--solomon

 

[Weylin]

Oh.. I did'nt realise that.. I did'nt look at the pic soo well.. Thanks Sol..

 

[xander]

seperate it from the more competitive fishes, and give it some feeders for the time being.(unless it's already accepting preped foods) i wouldn't continue trying to feed him preped foods till he's back on track. and up the water changes, if yr free you could do even more than E_americanus suggested....trust me that does miracles

 

[channarox]

xander and solomon are right.

 

[E_americanus]

seperate it from the more competitive fishes, and give it some feeders for the time being.(unless it's already accepting preped foods) i wouldn't continue trying to feed him preped foods till he's back on track. and up the water changes, if yr free you could do even more than E_americanus suggested....trust me that does miracles

do NOT go back to feeders at this point...it will only hurt in the long run. if the fish is taking FD krill then there is no point going back to feeders right now. there are times when using feeders may help, but they are very few and far between. stick with what it is eating now, and just give it more of that. if you want to give it whole fish, go with whole frozen silversides or something along those lines. no live feeders--
--solomon

 

[E_americanus]

xander and solomon are right.

other than water changes (ironically), no, xander was wrong.--

 

[xander]

other than water changes (ironically), no, xander was wrong.--

seperate it from the more competitive fishes, and give it some feeders for the time being.(unless it's already accepting preped foods) i wouldn't continue trying to feed him preped foods till he's back on track. and up the water changes, if yr free you could do even more than E_americanus suggested....trust me that does miracles

i did mention the part in red...

ironic was a right choice of word

 

[E_americanus]

i did mention the part in red...

ironic was a right choice of word

doesn't matter if you mentioned the part in red or not...either way it means you didn't read the initial post carefully--
--solomon

 

[FishDog]

I had a 9 inch one grow to 12 inches in about 3 weeks. I feed mine earthworms and frozen krill. I stick the food on the end of a 24 gauge rod and dangle it in his face.

 

[West1]

I had a 9 inch one grow to 12 inches in about 3 weeks. I feed mine earthworms and frozen krill. I stick the food on the end of a 24 gauge rod and dangle it in his face.

Funny you say that, I believe mine just did.
He is 12" now and just the other day (few weeks ago) I check him @ 9.25"

Grow pretty fast