Spotted Gar help!

[fishlover111]

Hello everyone,

I have recently become the proud owner of 2 spotted Gar's. I have had them for around 1 week and I have been feeding them dried shrimp (which they seem to like a lot) I also know they like to eat live fish so today I bought some guppy's for them. Both Gars have taken to them however, one of them has eaten about 3 of them. Obviously this has made his stomach look bloated. I just wanted some advice to know if this is normal and they 'stock up' on food or if i should limit them amount of guppy's.

The gars are about 6" long!

If more info helps please ask!

Thank you!

 

[phillydog1958]

Hello everyone,

I have recently become the proud owner of 2 spotted Gar's. I have had them for around 1 week and I have been feeding them dried shrimp (which they seem to like a lot) I also know they like to eat live fish so today I bought some guppy's for them. Both Gars have taken to them however, one of them has eaten about 3 of them. Obviously this has made his stomach look bloated. I just wanted some advice to know if this is normal and they 'stock up' on food or if i should limit them amount of guppy's.

The gars are about 6" long!

If more info helps please ask!

Thank you!

That full, bloated look, immediately after eating a hefty meal is normal for all fish, including gar. If I were you, I'd try to get them off of live and on frozen or pellets. Try tilapia fillets, silversides, nightcrawlers, freeze-dried or frozen krill and pellets, if possible.

 

[fishlover111]

Thanks for your help, i thought it was normal but just wanted to make sure! I have got some frozen krill and some pellets that they are eating, I am only giving them some feeders now and then for a treat as i do not want them to become fussy and only want live food!

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

plz post only one thread on ur issue.

at thier size they should have food 24/7, and yes its normal.

 

[fishlover111]

Sorry for the multiple thread! Put original post in wrong section thought I could delete it after posting it in the correct place!

When you say they should have food 24/7 how should I ensure that? They get fed about 3x a day as the majority of their tank mates are still fry and need regular feeding.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

at 6" how did u get it on pellets?
at size most would still have them on live and, like i do when i raise the little guys, place a large amount of feeders in the tank and make sure their always is some.

with it on pellets i have no clue how u do it

 

[jworth]

if they are on pellets then just feed 3-4 times a day. no sense in risking giving them live food.

 

[fishlover111]

I put a few pellets in the tank and they went for them naturally they even try and munch on the flakes i put in there for my smaller cichlids

 

[Madding]

Gars going for flakes... that is a picture I'd like to see.

 

[fishlover111]

Gars going for flakes... that is a picture I'd like to see.

I was surprised myself however, that is the case!

Just additional info, i live on a small island with no fresh water rivers or lakes so all of our fish are imported from china, sri lanka etc... These gars were a brand new stock so im not sure on the travelling conditions. Is it possible that is the reason that they are hungry an eating lots of feeders, flakes and pellets? There fins were a bit torn from where they had been nibbling on each other but i read that this is common while they are still young. Any advice and tips anyone has would be great and definitely taken on board as i do love my fish!!