RE: NANFA-- Gar growth: was "Redfin pickerel"

Hoover, Jan J ERDC-EL-MS (Jan.J.Hoover_at_erdc.usace.army.mil)
Sun, 28 Mar 2004 15:07:17 -0800

Re spotted gar:
>>> How quick to they grow? I may have a 46 gallon bowfront aquarium I
could
house him in for a while before a 125 gallon. How long till it would out
grow
the 46?

According to Joseph Love's very recent and very thorough study on a Lake
Pontchartrain population (Southwestern Nat 49: 18-23):
males were 278 mm, females 299 mm at the end of the first year. Afterwards,
fish averaged 48 mm and 38 mm /year growth for the next four years, 16 mm
and 30 mm for the remaining years.

46 gal is not very big for a large fish with an "accelerator" type
morphology. Depending on the size of the gar when you get him (how warm you
keep him and how much food you give him) - a few months ?
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