Gar sitting at the bottom

[Fishes33]

Is it normal for a gar to sit at the bottom of the tank motionless?

It's depressing to see this 20" alligator gar sitting at the LFS. The owner is asking too much for it.

 

[danotaylor]

Agreed. It looks totally down trodden
How much is the LFS asking for it?

 

[Fishes33]

Agreed. It looks totally down trodden
How much is the LFS asking for it?

$840 usd

 

[kno4te]

Seen a few gar species do this. Seem to be fine. Since at a lfs might be fed feeders so caution when buying a listless fish.

 

[yellowfinfmb]

mine sits on the bottom all the time

 

[danotaylor]

Does anyone know what their behavior in the wild is? Ambush hunter? Cruising predator? Maybe they lay around when not actively seeking a feed
I have a vague recollection of seeing marbled gar for sale here. From memory in a similar price range at that size

 

[tlindsey]

Does anyone know what their behavior in the wild is? Ambush hunter? Cruising predator? Maybe they lay around when not actively seeking a feed
I have a vague recollection of seeing marbled gar for sale here. From memory in a similar price range at that size

Had a Florida gar that layed on the bottom occasionally. Don't know about alligator gar but smaller gar like the Florida gar I assume from the color markings possibly a ambush predator.

 

[Caveden]

Does anyone know what their behavior in the wild is? Ambush hunter? Cruising predator? Maybe they lay around when not actively seeking a feed
I have a vague recollection of seeing marbled gar for sale here. From memory in a similar price range at that size

Common gar behaviour. You’ll see them floating at the top surface like a log, not moving much and letting the currents take them. You may also see them, similar in this case, resting at the bottom, until they require a gulp of air where they will swim up.
They are ambush predators; meaning they’ll wait for prey to swim close to them before they strike. They aren’t actively hunting for prey such as arowanas or dorados. The larger, older gars tend to rest at the bottom. Younger gars you will see swimming more and at the surface.
The marble gar in the photo, I’m eyeballing around 20”? Seems like an okay price for its size in the US.

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

I don’t think they’re overcharging really. I’ve seen smaller marbled alligator gar ( maybe around 1 foot if I remember correctly) go for around 540$

how do they get the gar to have that marbled pattern?

 

[Caveden]

I don’t think they’re overcharging really. I’ve seen smaller marbled alligator gar ( maybe around 1 foot if I remember correctly) go for around 540$

how do they get the gar to have that marbled pattern?

If I’m not mistaken, these marbled gars are artificially configured before they even hatch in their egg form through UV rays. Hence when they grow older you may see some marbled gars convert back to their natural form without marbling patterns