Many experienced aquarists are constantly on the search for exotic species to add to their aquariums–– and gars are certainly something to behold. While not the most popular pet fish, gars are unique in their appearance and have captured the attention of many seasoned hobbyists. But before you decide that these powerful fish are ideal pets for your aquarium, you’ll need to consider their size, diet, and overall maintenance. To help you make this decision, this guide explores whether you can keep gar in home aquariums.
Not All Gars Are Suited for Home Aquariums
Before we can answer whether you can keep gar in home aquariums, it is important to understand what they are and where they come from. A gar is a prehistoric-looking fish with a long, slim nose and slender body. Interestingly, seven species of gar live in fresh and brackish water.
Gars are actually an ancient species dating as far back as the Triassic period (more than 250 million years ago), where they are related to the Ginglymodi, a family of bony fish. The natural habitats of gars are found in slow-moving streams and shallow riverbeds in North America, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean Sea. Garfish are characterized by their streamlined bodies and spear-like noses. They have glistening silver bodies, but species such as the spotted gar are covered in dark spots. The shortnose gar has lighter spots located across the underbelly.
There’s no doubt that gars are beautiful fish, but not all species are suitable for a home aquarium. While you can keep the shortnose gar, spotted gar, and Florida gar as pets, they’re more suited to experienced aquarium hobbyists.
Which Gars Could Make Good Pets?
The Florida gar is the best choice for a home aquarium because they’re among the smallest of the Lepisosteus genus. You’re also more likely to find these fish at an exotic pet store or specialized breeder, making them easier to source. The Florida gar grows to 13 inches in domestic fish tanks but can reach a whopping 34 inches in the wild. This species is also preferred as a pet because it has a calmer temperament compared to other gars.
In addition to the Florida gar, the shortnose gar is often found in pet aquariums, but they’re larger fish at 36 inches. The shortnose gar takes longer to adapt, and they’re definitely not suited to inexperienced fish keepers.
The spotted gar is a beautiful fish and another favorable addition to the exotic aquarium but needs a tank of 350 to 400 gallons! They’re certainly not a practical choice for pet fish. If you are prepared for the costs and the maintenance of this species, then consider the more docile gars, including the Florida gars.
Gars’ Size Makes Aquarium-Keeping Hard
The largest gar is the alligator gar, which can reach an incredible length of 10 feet and a weight of a whopping 300 pounds. These monstrous fish are only seen in the wild or public aquariums and are not an option for home aquariums. Another significantly sized species is the longnose gar that can grow to 60 inches. Along with their immense size, these fish are aggressive and will likely eat their tankmates.
Smaller types that you’ll find in residential aquariums are the spotted gar and Florida gar. Shortnose gar can be kept in home aquariums, but these fish grow to two feet and require a very large tank. Gars enjoy slow-moving and oxygenated water as it replicates their natural habitats. Gars also require a fair amount of vegetation in their habitats to provide shelter and security.
Gars Need a Meat-Based Diet
Garfish don’t easily take to regular flake or pelleted food, and you’ll have to train them to accept these products. They require a unique and varied diet of live prey, or feeder fish, which is another reason they aren’t recommended for beginners or those unfamiliar with feeding live prey.
In the wild, gars consume small fish, such as minnows, but the larger adults will eat bigger fish and crustaceans. Gars are predators and use their needle-like teeth to capture prey. While they aren’t considered a threat to humans, they will bite if they’re improperly handled. In a home aquarium, these ancient fish are given worms, salmon, shellfish, and shrimp. They eat thawed trout, minnows, and herring for their high sources of protein and fat.
How to Care for Gars
Raising gars is not an easy task, but if you decide to keep one in a home aquarium, you’ll have to maintain clean water conditions with no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites. These prehistoric fish need temperatures of between 72 and 82℉ with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
To answer the question, “Can you keep gar in home aquariums?” you must consider their overall maintenance from tank size to diet. Gars are best suited to experienced fish keepers who can cover the expenses of large tanks while managing water parameters and dietary requirements. Gars are not practical to keep as pet fish because of their high level of care and costs, and only specialized hobbyists raise them domestically. They are sought by aquarists who enjoy keeping predatory fish species.
Gars are not recommended for those with little experience in fishkeeping. Alternative predatory fish, including oscars, certain freshwater catfish, and jaguar cichlids, may be easier to keep and still provide an incredible display for your fish tank.
