Spotted Gar: Beautiful and smart

[gamelovers11223]

Hi guys. For a month now I have a 9,25" spotted gar in my tank. For the first few day it was a little timid but swimming and eating normally. I feed him some feeder fish and trained him to eat from my hands some frozen chicken. Also he eats tropical flakes, to my surprise, I feed my gouramis. Gar is definately not aggressive toward my gouramis and a 7.5" Striped Raphael catfish.
I am super happy that I got him. Thanks, just wanted to share.

[Crispy]

I would avoid chicken and feed raw shrimp, prawn, and fish fillet. once he is eating that, I would get him off feeders also. they can introduce disease and parasites to your tank. your gar is still a baby and has alot of growing to do. best of luck with him!

[gamelovers11223]

Thanks. I'll get some shrimps and fish fillet for him. Any fish in particular is better?
Here is a video of my gar eating.
http://s793.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=IMG_0170.mp4

[Old Marine]

That is a nice looking Gar, Thank you for sharing!

[ScottishFish]

You seem to have a few gourami in there, no aggression issues?

What size tank is it?

[gamelovers11223]

I have totall of 7 gouramis and a 7" Striped Raphael Catfish sharing space with gar. Absolutely positively NO aggression whatsoever. Sometimes on le of gouramis would brush up on gar, a 7" golden one in particular - they are best friends now, swimming and hanging out together.
It a temporary 29gal tank, I'm in the process of setting up my 55gal.

[ScottishFish]

I find it very hard to believe you have all that stock in a 29G with no issues

[gamelovers11223]

Yep! Everyone is healthy. I do weekly water changes, plus I have two filters up to 80 gal filtration. I am waiting on delivery of Rena XP4 canister and a 55 gal tank will be in this week.
All gouramis and raphael were raised from 2" in that 29.

[-Alex-]

Yep! Everyone is healthy.

They might be healthy at the moment... but thats not the point.

That gar can probably reach about 10-15" in its first year, they get massive.

even if your upgrading to a 55gal it isnt big enough even for a growout tank.

[Demjor19]

You will eventually have issues with that mix of fish. Florida/Spotted Gars are not really aggressive...But he will eventually think he can make a meal out of them...And will try to do so. Just don't be surprised when it happens. Gars are predators...That means they eat other fish.

BTW...Skip the 55 and get a 75 gallon. A 55 is a 12" wide tank...pointless for a Gar. They need the turning space and a 75 will actually hold the gar for quite a while.