Gar's in 55?

**MasterJW** · 03-10-2013, 11:21 PM

Are there any gar that would fit in a 55 gallon? if so, are there any online breeders?

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-10-2013, 11:58 PM

Not really, the smallest gar still reaches a possible 2ft in length. A 55 gallon would not give one adequate swimming room. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/predatory/gars.php

**MasterJW** · 03-11-2013, 12:36 AM

oh, would any pickerel work in that tank.

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-11-2013, 12:49 AM

Not really again, the smallest, the grass pickerel, still can reach 10 inches and sometimes bigger. I know from your other thread you want to stock your tank with native fish, but as mentioned in your other thread, you will have to find fish that stay much smaller. Are you willing to tell us what state you are in, maybe someone can make suggestions that would work in your tank?

**MasterJW** · 03-11-2013, 12:53 AM

east Tennessee

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-11-2013, 01:11 AM

There are several neat fish from the Tennessee area, http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/a...ll-article.htm Here is a list of several native species, you will have to research how big each one gets and its environmental needs and whether or not the species needs a group or can be a single specimen, but it seems like a good place to start. http://www.nanfa.org/convention/98tnaquarium.shtml

**MasterJW** · 03-11-2013, 01:35 AM

cool articles, searched the darters, great looking fish. The pygmy sunfish was also really cool.

**Crispy** · 03-11-2013, 02:39 AM

I think there may be a small species of needlenose gar which aren't true gar but very similar that may work.

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-11-2013, 03:23 AM

I'm glad you found some fish you like that are more appropriate for your tank, and good for you for doing research before you make the mistake of improperly stocking your 55 gallon. There are a lot of beautiful and interesting native species that are much more appropriate for aquarium life, but so many people out there selfishly get fish knowing they will eventually out grow their tanks just for the sake of bragging rights. <--- not accusing you of this. Their intentions are usually good, they KNOW they are going to get a bigger tank as soon as the fish need it, but often that bigger tank never happens and the fish suffer in the long run. There is a saying many of us throw out around here, "stock the tank you have, not the tank you are going to get".

**genocidex** · 03-11-2013, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by Crispy

I think there may be a small species of needlenose gar which aren't true gar but very similar that may work.

i think those top out around 15" if im not mistaken...

if you want gar ish fish you can get Celebes Half Beak.... those are 3" fish ... but ya if you want native then that site would be very helpful.

edited for a mistake on gar size...