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Spiritofthesoul

Spiritofthesoul

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 3, 2010
4,692
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Singapore
Ok I have been pounding between a gar and a black arowana to ultilize the top region of my tank. But today's visit to my LFS finalised my decision. In a small tank around the corner were 4-6 beautiful alligator gars.

There was one which stands out above all. Measuring only at 6", this little gator have no bite marks on it's fin or tail. He just calmly hover around in the tank while the others swim to the back as my face approaches the tank. Not to mention his markings are one of the most intense one.

Bag him and went home. He is currently in my 6 x 2.5 x 2.5 tank with 9 polys and 1 ropefish. Those polys are unusually tame and don't attack anything moving so I assume he would be fine in there. Cool thing is that he starts eating out of the bag. I drop some Hikari foodsticks and FD krill and he ate them without hesistation.

Here are some pictures of him

Taking a break by the overflow
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Munching out of the bag :WHOA:
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Exploring the new tank
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Questions

  1. I know that most of you don't recommand keeping small gars in large tank as they can break their back swimming at full speed and knocking into the walls. Unfortunally I don't have a growout tank. Any way I could make it less skittish?
  2. How large do Gator gars usually grow in home aquarium? I'm not talking about gars found in wild which can grow large. Just the ones which are CB and kept in aquariums.
  3. Are they aggressive? I don't want my polys to be attacked by him
  4. Is a diet of foodsticks and krill enough? Or do I have to add more variety like crickets?
 
1) Maybe some plant cover, but there is still a risk.

2) Expect a three foot fish that will need a much bigger tank than the dimensions you listed.

3) Alligator gars are notoriously aggressive. Polypterus make good gar tankmates but when dealing with a gator, everything is at risk.

4) A varied diet is good, but that stuff souns good for the most part as long as the gar likes the pellets.

--

Overall, I'm not sure why you bought an alligator gar if you don't know anything about then. They need a lot of space and sometimes will tolerate zero tankmates.
 
Spiritofthesoul said:
Questions

  1. I know that most of you don't recommand keeping small gars in large tank as they can break their back swimming at full speed and knocking into the walls. Unfortunally I don't have a growout tank. Any way I could make it less skittish?
    1. LOTS of floating plants. or a DIY divider like the one i build.
  2. How large do Gator gars usually grow in home aquarium? I'm not talking about gars found in wild which can grow large. Just the ones which are CB and kept in aquariums.
    1. 3' is not terribly uncommon. there is a 33"er in stones aquarium that is bugging me to buy it :grinno:
  3. Are they aggressive? I don't want my polys to be attacked by him
    1. yes, extremely so. they are the most aggressive out of the 7 species of gar, and a mile ahead in terms of aggression compared to cubans, which are reputed to be the second most aggressive (although in sgp the trops seem to be second in the lead by a far cry for the position of second most aggressive gar species).
  4. Is a diet of foodsticks and krill enough? Or do I have to add more variety like crickets?
    1. would vary the diet moer than just foodsticks and krill. but not to crickets. i personally go with foodsticks, whole fish that the gar can take down and shrimp (market pranws)
Click to expand...

in green
 
Thanks for the feedback xander and Madding. Wanted to go with floridas but those available are very small, only like 2-3". So far my gator has not shown any sign of aggression to my bichirs. My dad has a large pond so he could go in there if it gets too large or aggressive. What are the chances of gator gars tolerating my bichirs if I grow them out together?

Or you think it's best if I brought it back to the LFS and swap for a florida to grow out first?
I don't know if the LFS (C328) would take back the gar.
 
Spiritofthesoul said:
Thanks for the feedback xander and Madding. Wanted to go with floridas but those available are very small, only like 2-3". So far my gator has not shown any sign of aggression to my bichirs. My dad has a large pond so he could go in there if it gets too large or aggressive. What are the chances of gator gars tolerating my bichirs if I grow them out together?

Or you think it's best if I brought it back to the LFS and swap for a florida to grow out first?
I don't know if the LFS (C328) would take back the gar.
Click to expand...

it will not really matter whether or not you grow them out together. with gator gars it's quite a hit and miss. stones still has 6 tropical gars from the new batch. you should have gotten one of those instead!
 
Would like to but budget doesn't allow me.

Hopes this kid turns out to be a gentleman.
Else I might have to make a DIY compartment to grow it out until it is large enough to go into my dad's pond.

*fingers crossed*
 
The bigger that Gator gets, the more aggressive he will become and it may just kill tank mates in a way that seems without reason (i wouldn't even consider a ropefish tank mate as juvie). No one is safe, I've had a similar size Longnose Gar get it's bill smashed to bits by his Gator Gar tank mate. it will grow quick, expect a 18" fish in just a few months if well fed. Don't be surprised when you're searching the market for a bigger tank or pond, or more likely someone to buy your gar!
 
Oh dear, I think I'll head down to the LFS and swap it with a florida on monday.
 
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