Tank Stocking

[TyKornblue]

So a very good friend of mine who I introduced to the hobby purchased a 150 gallon tank, 48"x24"x31". he's obsessed with hujeta/rocket gar ever since I mentioned them to him. he's deadset on getting about 5 of them, but doesn't know what else to stock the tank with. any suggestions?

 

[Redshark1]

Would it not be most satisfying to dedicate the tank to this species? That would be my first question to myself but I saw a suggestion to keep them with other similar predatory characins etc.

There are a few threads on here about this species.

 

[tlindsey]

150 gallon tank, 48"x24"x31". he's obsessed with hujeta/rocket gar ever since I mentioned them to him. he's deadset on getting about 5 of them, but doesn't know what else to stock the tank with. any suggestions?

The Hujeta gar can get up to 10 inches in length so upgrade would be needed. Also I would suggest a aquarium 72" length like a 180g. The Hujeta gar is built for speed hence the name Rocket Gar. You don't want them to swim into the glass when spooked.
Below info on the Hujeta Gar from my favorite magazine.
https://www.tfhmagazine.com/article...-instinct-predatory-fish-and-how-to-keep-them

 

[L3CTR0N]

The Hujeta gar can get up to 10 inches in length so upgrade would be needed. Also I would suggest a aquarium 72" length like a 180g. The Hujeta gar is built for speed hence the name Rocket Gar. You don't want them to swim into the glass when spooked.
Below info on the Hujeta Gar from my favorite magazine.
https://www.tfhmagazine.com/article...-instinct-predatory-fish-and-how-to-keep-them

I've kept mine in a 55 gallon for many years now. They learn about the boundaries of the tank fairly quickly and have never slammed into the glass. They aren't very jumpy fish either from my experience and I haven't had one break its jaws/snout over the past 7 years I've kept them.

 

[L3CTR0N]

So a very good friend of mine who I introduced to the hobby purchased a 150 gallon tank, 48"x24"x31". he's obsessed with hujeta/rocket gar ever since I mentioned them to him. he's deadset on getting about 5 of them, but doesn't know what else to stock the tank with. any suggestions?

I've kept mine with a variety of different fish. Anything from
- Bolivian rams
- Geophagus
- Upper jaw bichirs
- Silver dollars
- Gouramies
- Larger tetras (Congos mainly)
- Larger barbs (Mascara, Denison, even adult tiger barbs)
- Leopard bushfish
- And many more that I can't remember
Just make sure that their tankmates are not overly aggressive. Hujetas are really passive and peaceful (but not towards prey items), being easily bullied.

 

[tlindsey]

I've kept mine in a 55 gallon for many years now. They learn about the boundaries of the tank fairly quickly and have never slammed into the glass. They aren't very jumpy fish either from my experience and I haven't had one break its jaws/snout over the past 7 years I've kept them.

How large did your Hujeta's get?

 

[L3CTR0N]

How large did your Hujeta's get?

Around the 8-9 inch range. I do keep up with tank maintanence like a maniac though. Most of the ones I see are at the 6-7 inch range.