Tropical Gar : The Singapore Order

[xander]

Its time for me to post some pictures too (taken with iPhone)!

The first week after I got the fella I tried feeding pellets as i wasn't keen on feeders. Reckon it consume some as there were some evidence of defecation but appetite wasnt good. Moved on to feeders, small goldfish and platys, and the little fella is so much happier!

It is now a tad over 5 inches and growing healthy. Don't really subscribe to the rapid pumping up method so I'm feeding 1 to 2 feeders every 2 days.

Are tropical gars rarer than cubans and true spotted gars? I did a search and it seems so. Most websites that provide information on Gars seem to suggest its close to impossible to find. Is that true?

Would it be possible to bring in more? Im sure the folks here wouldn't mind having a few more pieces=) In my opinion the $500 a piece is a fair deal considering the rarity of the species and its beauty. Definitely wouldnt mind paying more for a larger, healthier specimen. Stones Aquarium did us a HUGE favour by getting it in at the previous price. as what Solomon said, we got it cheaper than the market rate in the US. At 180 its practically a steal! Really regret not ordering more.

first, some general comments about the pics

that T-gar looks really good! i wanted something like that. haha

michel, need some updates on yours too!

on to some heavier stuff,

would let it feed as much as it wants at least till 8" before you control the diet. hope the info provided here would help explain why
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5029248&postcount=6

worldwide, trops are hard to acquire. they are available, but the work you need to do to get them from where they are to your tank is pretty insane. spotted gars and shortnose gars are fairly common in the wild, i think the word we are looking for is unavailable in our side of the world. cubans are one of the non-hybrid gars in which the word "rare" is applicable. they are rare in the wild and up till this point, were pretty scarce in the hobby as well.

of course, i'm actually talking about this in US/Singapore terms. so it's not totally accurate if one were to look at my post from the point of view of hobbyists in one country only.

cheers

 

[channarox]

I will, once I get a black background.
My setup's not very pretty, since it's a bare tank... LOL

 

[Unfathomable]

Thanks for the comments guys! Really hope it retains the contrast and spot distribution.

Xander, thanks for the advise! Shall do that, maybe try feeding prawns as well now.

So I'm guessing that the rarity of gars in Singapore goes something like this:

Florida gar > alligator gar > longnose gar > Cuban gar > tropical gar > spotted gar & shortnose gar

Its sad to know that gars are a food source in Costa Rica, imagine our $500 gars on a plate.

I was under the impression that tropical gars are cultured over in CR. Why would it still be rare even in the US?

 

[Wiggles92]

Its sad to know that gars are a food source in Costa Rica, imagine our $500 gars on a plate.

I was under the impression that tropical gars are cultured over in CR. Why would it still be rare even in the US?

Tropical gars are farmed for food in Mexico and other Central American countries in order to take pressure off of the wild populations. From what I understand, it's a pretty big operation and the $500 price tag for you guys is probably more the result of the permits and such that were needed to import them rather than rarity in captivity where they are produced. They are still rare in the U.S. because importing them legally can be a real pain because of required permits and minimum order sizes.

 

[Unfathomable]

Tropical gars are farmed for food in Mexico and other Central American countries in order to take pressure off of the wild populations. From what I understand, it's a pretty big operation and the $500 price tag for you guys is probably more the result of the permits and such that were needed to import them rather than rarity in captivity where they are produced. They are still rare in the U.S. because importing them legally can be a real pain because of required permits and minimum order sizes.

Thanks for the explanation Ryan!

 

[Unfathomable]

A friend told me TPGs pose not threat to Clown Loaches and Silver dollars. When this fella grows to 12 inch i would want to place it in my 6ft tank with the above tank mates. Any advise?

 

[pharmaecopia]

A friend told me TPGs pose not threat to Clown Loaches and Silver dollars. When this fella grows to 12 inch i would want to place it in my 6ft tank with the above tank mates. Any advise?

Gars aren't recomended with silvery tankmates, like the silver dollars. I definitely wouldn't trust the gar with the clown loaches. If the gar tries to eat them you could easily lose the gar.

 

[channarox]

Update, though not a pretty one.
I really need to amp up my filtration...






Colors were pretty bland, as it was actually midnight and all the lights were off.

 

[E_americanus]

Update, though not a pretty one.
I really need to amp up my filtration...






Colors were pretty bland, as it was actually midnight and all the lights were off.

WOW those gars are looking thick! nicely done!--
--solomon

 

[channarox]

WOW those gars are looking thick! nicely done!--
--solomon

LOL thanks Sol. They have access to feeders all the time.
The biggest Florida Gar is maybe 2 times as thick as the Trop, and only 5 inches longer.