It's looking like there will be at least two longnose gar in the big pond next summer, and I may also add the two alligator gar that I'm getting soon.
Keeping Gar in a Pond?
- Thread starter Wiggles92
- Start date
that size is perfect in my backyard i have a pond which contains 2,500 gallons in that pond i keep 3 pacu each about 13'' 2 silver arowana which are full grown and 2 albino oscar that are 8'' and 12''
Yes, this thread is old, but it's that time of year again: time to work on getting some gars ready to go in the ~96,000 pond!
I just so happened to look out over my goldfish pond (~500 gallons) today, and I saw that both of my longnose gars were at the surface sunning themselves and getting some gulps of air. For the record, these are the ones that I got last summer at about 1.5" long, and they successfully made it through the winter despite the pond freezing over for long periods of time. Just from looking at them and previous measurements, I estimate that they're around the 17-18" mark now with one of them definitely being larger in both length and mass than the other. I trained them to accept small bluegills as a food source (rather than just eating small goldfish) by periodically placing a few dozen in their current pond every few days; it appears that they have wiped out the majority of the ones that I have given them thus far.
Now for my question: How long should I wait before transferring them to the big pond from this smaller pond? I was thinking of moving them in a week or two in order to capitalize on the currently large population of small bluegills and the upcoming spawn for the smallmouth bass and bluegills.
I just so happened to look out over my goldfish pond (~500 gallons) today, and I saw that both of my longnose gars were at the surface sunning themselves and getting some gulps of air. For the record, these are the ones that I got last summer at about 1.5" long, and they successfully made it through the winter despite the pond freezing over for long periods of time. Just from looking at them and previous measurements, I estimate that they're around the 17-18" mark now with one of them definitely being larger in both length and mass than the other. I trained them to accept small bluegills as a food source (rather than just eating small goldfish) by periodically placing a few dozen in their current pond every few days; it appears that they have wiped out the majority of the ones that I have given them thus far.
Now for my question: How long should I wait before transferring them to the big pond from this smaller pond? I was thinking of moving them in a week or two in order to capitalize on the currently large population of small bluegills and the upcoming spawn for the smallmouth bass and bluegills.
depends on the water temp imo. Once the temps are consistant, and even then moveing from the small pond to the larger one your going to see some temp difference. So I'de simply make sure to take your time acclimateing them over. I'de wait until they are actively feeding. being moved in slugish mode might be overly stressful on them. I usually moved my pondfish May/june from inside to outside. But this is also WI winters.
I'de recheck Sols recs on min temps and base the temps in your pond around those general guidelines for being safe move times.
BTW glad to hear they wintered so well.
I'de recheck Sols recs on min temps and base the temps in your pond around those general guidelines for being safe move times.
BTW glad to hear they wintered so well.
MonsterMinis;5081941; said:
Yes, I figured that the temperatures will be much more consistent in a few weeks since it will be further into spring. They're definitely actively feeding now; pretty much all of the little bluegills that I have moved from the big pond to their current pond are gone and some of the smaller goldfish are disappearing (which I am okay with).
