Which Gar is this?

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smartgags

Feeder Fish
Dec 11, 2012
4
0
0
Mumbai
Hey all you nice people!
I am a first-time fish 'owner' from India.
I bought a 10-inch Gar fish from a local fish store, and it has grown to about 14 inches in 2 months.

I have a couple of questions about the Gar, and it would be awesome if I get some answers :
1) What type of Gar is it? I have posted the images in this comment below. I think it is either a Shortnose Gar or Alligator Gar, going by the pictures online.
2) I feed it canned shrimps and "floating protein-rich food sticks". Do you suggest anything else for feeding? Live feeders are not an option
3) I have only 1 fish (the gar) in the tank. Is it wise to add another Gar or some other fish, or should I leave this as is? Is it healthier for the fish if there are other fishes in the tank, as opposed to a sole fish?
4) Is it possible to figure out the gender of the Gar fish? How?
5) There are a few youtube videos of people petting their Gar. Is it safe to pet the Gar?

I would also appreciate links to web pages that talk about how to handle/take car of Gars.


Looking forward to help from the pros :-)

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Alligator gar, and no on the other questions :)
They can be kept with some other fish - just use common sense.

Websites - just google Alligator Gar care.
 
Read the stickies in the gar section here. I would NOT recommend trying to pet it.
 
Based on experience which badly ended just 2 days ago, no, you cannot keep them with other fish unless of course you have a gigantic tank. By the time they reach more than 24", they will think of their tankmates as either foe or food. Do you have a pond for that monster? He will grow to >8feet. See here. Petting it? Be prepared to get nicked while it is below 18" and lose your fingers above a certain size. Unless you have a few thousand gallons, it will only end badly.
 
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