Tank help

[sambam9]

Okay, I currently am looking to buy a silver gar and really need to know several things.

1. Minimum tank size / best tank size
2. Tank mates? Plecos?
3. Should I use a powerhead?
4. What types of decor / plants are best? Driftwood?

 

[HungDang]

Okay, I currently am looking to buy a silver gar and really need to know several things.

1. Minimum tank size / best tank size
2. Tank mates? Plecos?
3. Should I use a powerhead?
4. What types of decor / plants are best? Driftwood?

there is no such thing as a silver gar!

 

[Dubeckyj]

I think what HungDang means to say, is that a silver gar is a colloquialism for a type of characin, the ctenolucius hujeta. They have very different needs from true gar, and your questions would be better addressed to the "other characins" forum. Some threads that might interest you are here or here, as well as a fact sheet here.

Cool fish, though.

 

[Dahawkster15]

I think what HungDang means to say, is that a silver gar is a colloquialism for a type of characin, the ctenolucius hujeta. They have very different needs from true gar, and your questions would be better addressed to the "other characins" forum. Some threads that might interest you are here or here, as well as a fact sheet here.

Cool fish, though.

+1

 

[rwellbaum]

Okay, I currently am looking to buy a silver gar and really need to know several things.

1. Minimum tank size / best tank size
2. Tank mates? Plecos?
3. Should I use a powerhead?
4. What types of decor / plants are best? Driftwood?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?495639-Who-else-has-a-quot-Rocket-Gar-quot
you can keep a "silver gar" in a 75 gallon tank they can get to around 10" so they need room to turn around freely
tank mates are anything that wont fit in its mouth, they will eat everything
powerheads are optional
the best decor for a "silver gar" are lots of plants (live or fake) next to the glass because the plants next to glass will stop them from banging there noses against the glass

 

[sambam9]

I think what HungDang means to say, is that a silver gar is a colloquialism for a type of characin, the ctenolucius hujeta. They have very different needs from true gar, and your questions would be better addressed to the "other characins" forum. Some threads that might interest you are here or here, as well as a fact sheet here.

Cool fish, though.

Thank you.

 

[Chicxulub]

A better name for this fish would be "silver pike characin". The other members of the family are referred to as spotted pike characins and the very similar but not too closely related African fish Hepsetus odoe is called a tiger pike characin, so that just makes sense to me.

I am getting one of these cool little fish next week, I'm just waiting for my LFS to get it in. These fish are peaceful but predatory. If the other fish is too big to be eaten, it will likely not be bothered. Silver pikes max out at about a foot and like to school. They do well in groups or with similar, peaceful schooling fish. I would feel that a 4 foot by 18 inch tank would be the minimum for an adult, but obviously bigger is always better.

 

[rwellbaum]

Other common names for the Ctenolucius hujeta "silver gar"
hujeta gars, pike characins, spotted cachorros, south american freshwater needlefish, freshwater barracudas, gar characins, slant-nose gars, and rocket gars