alligator gar a picky eater?

[jlizard311]

I bought an alligator gar this weekend, he's only 5" maybe... I've got some rosy reds in the tank for him, but i haven't noticed him eat anything. any ideas? should i try something else? if so what?

[Northernguy]

Is the tank new too?

Welcome to the fabulous AC!

[jlizard311]

I've had fish in it for probably 3-4 months...

[William]

How big is the tank. The gar will grow qickly and grow huge.

[Crispy]

keep the lighting to a minimum. just ambient light will work better. they are very shy eaters until they are used to feeding in your tank.

[jlizard311]

the tank is only a 55gal right now, but I'm looking at getting into a 90-120g NLT april.
its a decently planted tank (10 plants or so) so ill have to have some light for the plants. I'm in the process of re-wiring the light and redoing the hood with a smaller light and then some soft blue LEDs (just 3 of them for a moonlight effect). i read on a fish forum that you can take some aluminum foil crumple it up and poke some holes in it and it'll give the tank the ripply light effect that you see in nature, i started that with the old (bigger) light a few days ago, all day today the lights have been off. i just did a fish count when i got home a few minutes ago, i think I'm coming up a few short on my rosy count. i know one of the fiddler crabs ate one the other day but by my count i should have 14... I'm only seeing maybe 10.
how should i set the tank up? like heavily planted? surface cover? any ideas?

[William]

Sounds like the gar is eating. the rosy will be gone quickly.

[Demjor19]

Can you post some pictures? They seem to call ALL "Gar" Alligator Gar in pet stores anymore. I am doubting it's actually a Gator Gar and depending upon what species it truly is, the care and requirements will vary greatly.

[jlizard311]

IMG_8861.jpgthe pet store said "true alligator gar"

[Demjor19]

IMG_8861.jpgthe pet store said "true alligator gar"

I have gotten into heated arguements w/ lfs workers over mislabled "Alligator Gar" before. I'm not saying it can't be a true Alligator Gar, but I would certainly NEVER just go on an lfs's word. Like I said...Get some pics and I will give you a possitive ID.

Edit: I just saw the photo. That is indeed a true Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula).

Good luck and he will not be a picky eater for long. Expect it to reach 4-5 feet in captivity and it will eventually try and probably succeed at killing/eating any/all tankmates. They become TRUE monsters. A fish I have not even attempted to take on yet. I have enough Gar keeping experience and just know better I guess.