Hello, I have never kept gar or pickerel before but would like to a semilarge predotory fish. Would it be better to start with a gar, and what speacies, or a pickerel, what speacies would do best, also what would be some good tank mates or special care requirerments? Thanks.
Gar or pickerel?
Started by
Guest_MasterJW_*
, May 19 2013 08:27 PM
7 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_fishfray_*
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Posted 19 May 2013 - 08:40 PM
Pickerel would be a much better option, the grass pickerel (also known as redfin pickerel) in particular. Their maximum size is 12 inches, but they probably wont reach that, so they can be kept in a reasonable sized tank. Gar, on the other hand, can reach 12 inches in their first year and will end up much too big for any standard home aquarium. If you are willing to set up a very large tank though, gar are an easy to keep and very interesting fish. Any tank mates should be at least as big if not bigger than the gar/pike, you will be surprised what they can fit in their mouths!
#3
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 19 May 2013 - 10:33 PM
Honestly either. I have kept gar, Florida, and longnose in a 240 long and after three years they were only 12-14 inches long.
#4
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 20 May 2013 - 02:13 PM
I have kept spotted gar for extended periods (multiple years) in 55-gal aquarium. They stunt well and can be taught to consume pellets. One I acquired in 1989 as a 12" juvenile that is still kicking and pushing 36" although now in 1 acre pond.
#5
Guest_MasterJW_*
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Posted 20 May 2013 - 03:49 PM
The largest tank I currently own is a 55, which would be better for that seize tank, or do both need more space once large?
#6
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 20 May 2013 - 03:50 PM
The pickerel would be the most well suited for that tank
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#8
Guest_Subrosa_*
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Posted 21 May 2013 - 12:41 PM
My rule of thumb with active fish, or as in the case of Pickerel sedentary fish given to bursts of great speed, is to have the shortest dimension of footprint of the tank at least twice the length of the fish in question. Although it sounds strange, by that standard the 40 breeder (36"L x 18"W x 16"H)I have my 8" Pickerel in is more suitable than the 55 gal you're considering. Although they're very inactive fish most of the time, when they do move they usually really mean it, especially at feeding time. Having some running room before they encounter glass is a very good thing. Please don't think I'm being hypocritical about tank size, mine has been in that 40 since it was about 3", and right next to it is a 210 (72"L x 24"W x 24"H) with nothing in it but water and wood that I want to sink. Because the tops won't sit right with the wood floating I don't want to risk having the Pickerel jump out. But when they all sit flush, in it goes! I guess what I'm getting at is that a 55 is not a very good long term tank for any Pickerel. The 36" 40 breeder is too short in length to really let the a Pickerel move. I would consider a 48" x 18" footprint, ie a 75 gal as the smallest permanent tank for a Redfin. If you're going bigger go for a 72" length first. The 24" width is nice but not as useful as added length.
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