alligator gar a picky eater?

**Fishkeeper** · 02-15-2012, 05:49 PM

Frankly, unless you can get a tank the size of a swimming pool, the public aquarium is probably the best place for him. BIIIIG fish. And they have the potential to eat a cat or small dog.

**Demjor19** · 02-15-2012, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Brhino

What size tank do you figure you'd need to keep an adult specimen, Demjor? I don't know much about gars, but it seems to me that a fish on its way to 4' long is going to require a tank bigger than 95% of aquarists can afford or make space for.

Personally, I do not even know anyone who has been able to keep one as a true adult. I have a friend who cared for one at a public aquarium, this specimen was around 4-5 feet long. Realistically, I would suggest keeping it in a 3'x8' after its first year. This should then hold it for an additional few years (assuming it's growth slows down around 30" as I would suspect). As an adult...Bigger would obviously be better, but I would think something along the lines of 4'x10' or bigger would suffice.

This is all based on my opinion and hear-say from other experienced gar keepers who have kept them and worked with them. My thinking is...If a specimen kept in a 10k+ gallon public aquarium only reaches 4-5 feet...A specimen in home aquaria should stay slightly smaller. Diet and water quality would obviously impact its growth and adult size.

**DaveHaag** · 02-22-2012, 01:42 PM

Like a few fish I have had, maybe just raise him and enjoy him for the time you got till he is too big for your setup, then find him a home and start over with a new one...

**trscstghst** · 07-06-2012, 11:11 AM

http://sbnewspaper.com/?p=6811

doubt yours will ever get this big but just an idea of what you got. ive seen old black and whit photos of them well over 15 ft.

**Demjor19** · 07-06-2012, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by trscstghst

http://sbnewspaper.com/?p=6811

doubt yours will ever get this big but just an idea of what you got. ive seen old black and whit photos of them well over 15 ft.

That should be a crime...Bowfishing a native species w/ no intent other than killing it. Thanks for sharing.

Also...In captivity, they will likely never reach 6 feet.