Tank for gars

[KaraJo]

When Jordan and I were netting at a nearby lake, we came across a small (5-6") bowfin that seemed to be dying. we tried to scoop him up, but he slipped under some plants and we lost him. That was around July-August, so we will possibly be on the lookout again this summer for them.

Are these solitaire fish, or are there any tankmates that could be suitable to keep with them?

 

[Freke]

8 USD for a guppy?? DAMN!!! And i thought Sweden was the worst place to live if u like fish. A guppy i 2$ here and a florida gar is like 25$

 

[E_americanus]

When Jordan and I were netting at a nearby lake, we came across a small (5-6") bowfin that seemed to be dying. we tried to scoop him up, but he slipped under some plants and we lost him. That was around July-August, so we will possibly be on the lookout again this summer for them.

Are these solitaire fish, or are there any tankmates that could be suitable to keep with them?

jordan,

it would not be surprising that lake (and therefore somewhat land-locked) bowfin would grow to larger sizes than river bowfin...happens a lot in terms of fish ecology. good size one in that picture for sure. the next garvana trip would likely yield some bowfin, although i am not sure how small...on the last one we brought in a 24" fish, but i believe some other sampling sites around there have small guys.

kara,

in terms of the home aquarium, bowfin are advised to be kept alone. as they get bigger they get meaner, and they have a tendency to bully other fish even when small. in a brief "experiment" i had several 3" bowfin consume a bunch of muskie juveniles pretty much overnight...they are pretty voracious. so yeah, keeping them alone is best for them and for other fishes--
--solomon

 

[Polypterus]

jordan,

it would not be surprising that lake (and therefore somewhat land-locked) bowfin would grow to larger sizes than river bowfin...happens a lot in terms of fish ecology. good size one in that picture for sure. the next garvana trip would likely yield some bowfin, although i am not sure how small...on the last one we brought in a 24" fish, but i believe some other sampling sites around there have small guys.

kara,

in terms of the home aquarium, bowfin are advised to be kept alone. as they get bigger they get meaner, and they have a tendency to bully other fish even when small. in a brief "experiment" i had several 3" bowfin consume a bunch of muskie juveniles pretty much overnight...they are pretty voracious. so yeah, keeping them alone is best for them and for other fishes--
--solomon

Just to add to the Bowfin stuff... I really do love these fish

I have kept personally a number of them and cared for or started many more.

General captive size is not really above 20 inches and an exceptional one would be around 24 if raised from fry or Juvenile. One Male I cared for was around 10 years old and was only 18 inches. Largest older one was a female presumed to be around 12 years and she was 22 inches.. As with Gar wild sizes do not actually fit captive fish, some of the fish I have kept that never reached 18 inches in five years came from stock where the adult males where 20 inches easily and the females where not less than 30 inches. (In fact I caught the runner up to the Michigan state record from this location..I could actually embarrass myself with a photo of this fish at an award ceremony but will spare that for now) These where Lake fish and not river fish.

River Bowfin as Solomon stated are really different and often much smaller. It is interesting actually to think about what is going on with this.

As for Tankmates and Bowfin I absolutely do not advise it.. Either the fish kills everything or the fish gets Killed. Bowfin are best a specimen tank only fish in most circumstances.

 

[E_americanus]

(In fact I caught the runner up to the Michigan state record from this location..I could actually embarrass myself with a photo of this fish at an award ceremony but will spare that for now).

oh man, that picture is sweet! --
--solomon

 

[demjor19]

oh man, that picture is sweet! --
--solomon

Let's see it Richard!!!

 

[Polypterus]

Let's see it Richard!!!

Fine I'll embarrass the crap out of my self....
Here is Me a Long time ago On the Program Michigan out of doors (1980's) with Fred trost... Damn old pic... I have much longer hair these days and generally not seen so unlike a Neanderthal...

I'm going to so regret this....

 

[Polypterus]

Usually look more like this these days

 

[demjor19]

Fine I'll embarrass the crap out of my self....
Here is Me a Long time ago On the Program Michigan out of doors (1980's) with Fred trost... Damn old pic... I have much longer hair these days and generally not seen so unlike a Neanderthal...

I'm going to so regret this....

thats actually really awesome!

 

[demjor19]

Usually look more like this these days

this on the other hand is very interesting! are you kissing it or eating it alive!? nice platostomus either way!