My two little gators and a FL gar - finally, pictures

[Viktor Jarikov]

The gator gars "French" and "Baguette" have been with me for 3 years but never in a tank, until now. Hence, the photos.

Recently, they have been having a recurring external parasite problem living in an outside pond, so I had to treat, quarantine, and observe them. Unfortunately, the biggest available tank I have at the moment is 120 gal. The tank's 6' x 1.5', so my 2'9" TL gars (all three) are not very comfortable but taking it in strides... no hissy fits yet.

"French" and "Baguette" were ~1.5' three years ago when I rescued them in Buffalo, NY. I expected a faster growth but maybe I was wrong. The FL gar "Big Spotty" was caught locally a year ago. He was ~2' then.

[Viktor Jarikov]

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[Viktor Jarikov]

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[har_eh]

Very interesting fish to keep.

[Scleropages]

It's probably no surprise I'm a big fan of primitive fish. As such, those are some lovely gar. What type of external parasite was the culprit? Gill flukes?

If you don't mind sharing, what's the story behind the rescue of the 'gator gars? Don't tell me it was some teenager who thought it would be cool (kewl?) to keep in them in a 55gal.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Yep, I've got a soft spot for the primitive/prehistoric fish too big time.

What the parasites are I don't know. Looked like a white elongated body, a white thread/worm about 1/2" long (with much mucus hanging around them). Started little here and there when I stupidly put another wild-caught FL gar in their pond. In a week, their heads and snouts were covered with these parasites, some on fins, little on the main bodies. I had to go twice more salt than full marine (6% i.e., 6 g of NaCl per 94 g of water!) for 48 h to kill the suckers. After a month they came back a little, so another round of salt bath.

Trade-ins. Found them stuffed in a 100 gal at a couple of LFSs (which do sell the babies still).

[bigbird]

nice looking fish. hope all is well soon and you can put back in the pond. cheers jk

[rob rensen]

Sad to keep those fish in such a small tank, even for one gar.

[Viktor Jarikov]

That's a too curt and therefore ambiguous comment. If you will, please explain what you are trying to say.

In case you are saying what I think you are saying: this was a necessary evil, so to speak - a 2-week treatment and quarantine routine. The gars have been back in their pond for 2 weeks now. http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =4&t=36531

[rob rensen]

Ok, I didn't noticed that...I'm sorry

[Viktor Jarikov]

No harm done, brother. I try my best at keeping big fish. Ever since I had rescued them, the gars spent 2 years in a 4000 gal pond 40'x6'x3' http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... et+catfish. Then 1 year (til present) in an about 600 gal outdoor pond, awaiting their 4500 gal 13'x13'x4.5' display tank http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... lit=+blues. I had never had them in a tank until these 2 weeks I mentioned - an opportunity for pics other than dorsal view.