Woke up with Gar Nose missing

[Mercury2234]

Perun,

Of course the "hates his nose" statement is NOT factual...I was trying to make light of situation and hoping most people would not have taken it at face value.

You dont think I am trying find a solution? Why do you think I am posting here? I am hoping somebody with EXPERIENCE would shed some light on the situation. Lastly, I think it's extremely presumptuous to conclude that the GAR "hates my tank" and should be removed altogether. I am just trying to get help, no need for attacks.

 

[Madding]

Well, the thread title certainly is an eye-catcher. I'm glad it isn't at all true, for your gars sake.

 

[Polypterus]

Perun,

Of course the "hates his nose" statement is NOT factual...I was trying to make light of situation and hoping most people would not have taken it at face value.

You dont think I am trying find a solution? Why do you think I am posting here? I am hoping somebody with EXPERIENCE would shed some light on the situation. Lastly, I think it's extremely presumptuous to conclude that the GAR "hates my tank" and should be removed altogether. I am just trying to get help, no need for attacks.

Be specific and your solution is to remove the fish and re-evaluate your current stocking as well as tank set up... Do not get me started on experience... I have more than many here plus some. All just with these fish and these fish alone. I've been working with them far longer than most and that timeframe is in some 2 decades not in minimal years with a few fish. It is with hundreds of fish of all species and then some.... Post count is not an indication of worth. Be aware of this from time to time.

The Gar does hate your tank and it is not presumptuous at all to say so it is very much a major factor. You would not have this problem in a fish that was content in it's surroundings. It clearly hates your tank or this would not even be an issue. I would think this would almost be a DUH (Homer likes doughnuts) statement. What do you think it is content to smashing it self agaist glass at all opportunity? Obviously not so separate the animal.

My statement remains true.. Remove the fish and try to identify and correct the cause of the behavior. Most likely what you will find is that the environment the fish is in is the cause of stress and that by removing that stress your fish will stop banging it's nose up. Keep it how you have it now the fish will continue to self mutilate itself. Gar typically do not go out of their way to cause damage to themselves if they do it is often either environmental or outside stimulus that is the cause. Tankmates do equal environmental. As does the position and placement of the tank it self. Evaluate all these things.

spend some time looking at these obvious causes to your problem... Do not tell me your trying to find a solution when your really not. What your trying to find and looking for is some way to make your current screwed up setup work for you and you want someone to tell you "It's all OK"

That is not always an option and those of us with experience will see it quickly this is not an option.

What we see, the solution is clear. Remove the fish from it's current situation and place it in one more favorable.

 

[Spatula]

If I were you, I would remove the slabs of concrete-looking thing to see if things improve.

Cant believe I didn't notice that myself.... That is an EXCELLENT observation man.
You need to remove that crap at once, it's not a good environment.

Perun... I think I know who you might be
Good to see you back.

 

[Catfishracer]

WOW I think m245 put you in the right direction.
By the way I clicked on this thread thinking I was going to see a gar with his beak broken in half. I dont want to sound disapointed or anything. But in a weird, sick sort of way I was.

 

[ntboy09]

poor gar, i hope he'll recover soon.

 

[Mercury2234]

Be specific and your solution is to remove the fish and re-evaluate your current stocking as well as tank set up... Do not get me started on experience... I have more than many here plus some. All just with these fish and these fish alone. I've been working with them far longer than most and that timeframe is in some 2 decades not in minimal years with a few fish. It is with hundreds of fish of all species and then some.... Post count is not an indication of worth. Be aware of this from time to time.

The Gar does hate your tank and it is not presumptuous at all to say so it is very much a major factor. You would not have this problem in a fish that was content in it's surroundings. It clearly hates your tank or this would not even be an issue. I would think this would almost be a DUH (Homer likes doughnuts) statement. What do you think it is content to smashing it self agaist glass at all opportunity? Obviously not so separate the animal.

My statement remains true.. Remove the fish and try to identify and correct the cause of the behavior. Most likely what you will find is that the environment the fish is in is the cause of stress and that by removing that stress your fish will stop banging it's nose up. Keep it how you have it now the fish will continue to self mutilate itself. Gar typically do not go out of their way to cause damage to themselves if they do it is often either environmental or outside stimulus that is the cause. Tankmates do equal environmental. As does the position and placement of the tank it self. Evaluate all these things.

spend some time looking at these obvious causes to your problem... Do not tell me your trying to find a solution when your really not. What your trying to find and looking for is some way to make your current screwed up setup work for you and you want someone to tell you "It's all OK"

That is not always an option and those of us with experience will see it quickly this is not an option.

What we see, the solution is clear. Remove the fish from it's current situation and place it in one more favorable.

You say you aren't being presumptuous and yet, you are questioning my character? You dont know me and yet you are saying I am looking for empathy instead of advice...

In addition, you are telling me to get rid of my fish and you aren't slightly surprised about my skepticism? You don't think if a vet tells you that your dog or whatever you hold dear has a life threatening situation and you aren't getting a 2nd opinion? In other words, you are saying that they just don't really care, but rather just trying to self-soothe their psyche?

I am sorry, I do care... I am just trying to evaluate all variables and looking for added opinions before IF I HAVE TO, to get rid of him.

In any case, I will not get into an argument over the net...You either have some serious issues or I HOPE just having a bad day.

Thanks for all the inputs everybody, the blocks are used for my clown knife as cave, but I just took out. Now that I think of it and many people brought it up, I am speculating something spooked him and he RAMMED hard into the block. If that does not work, then I will give him away.

 

[teohha]

Pict doesn't fit the description.

Anyway... I have seen a gar with the top portion of its snout bent 60 degrees, LFS says it collided with the tank while feeding. I don't think the gar was able to see the glass.

Its a happy ending though, the gar is still alive and well.. just very strange looking.

 

[xander]

Pict doesn't fit the description.

Anyway... I have seen a gar with the top portion of its snout bent 60 degrees, LFS says it collided with the tank while feeding. I don't think the gar was able to see the glass.

Its a happy ending though, the gar is still alive and well.. just very strange looking.

a slight derail from the original point of the thread, but something i've always noticed, my fish(gars at least, i don't observe any other fish nearly as much) seem to have bearing of their tank parameters, meaning that they seem to be able, under normal circumstances (not spazzing, freaking out etc...) to sense where the tank walls are when cruising around the tank. any explanations for this behaviour?

thanks

 

[Madding]

a slight derail from the original point of the thread, but something i've always noticed, my fish(gars at least, i don't observe any other fish nearly as much) seem to have bearing of their tank parameters, meaning that they seem to be able, under normal circumstances (not spazzing, freaking out etc...) to sense where the tank walls are when cruising around the tank. any explanations for this behaviour?

thanks

I think it is much like training a dog with an invisible electric fence and collar. The dog hits it enough, gets enough shocks, that even without the "reasoning" capabilities that we humans have, their instincts adapt to recognize the barrier to the point that eventually the collars and fences aren't even needed.

Same is true with fish, especially ones with a long, thin snout that is vulnerable to damage. A gar feels his nose hit against the glass barrier long enough, he's going to eventually program himself into avoiding a certain perimeter instinctually.

Of course, with both dog and fish, certain circumstances can override their avoidance skills, such as fright in a fish or a mailman for a dog...

Just my opinion on the subject.