Striped "Gar"
aka Striped Pike Characin
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|
Striped Gar Factoids |
|
|
Origin |
Top of South America |
|
Sexual Differences |
All look alike to me |
| Breeding | Not likely |
|
Temperature |
Tropical -- circa 80 F |
|
Attitude |
Skittish predator |
|
Biggest Threat |
Small and uncovered tanks |
|
Schedule |
Hunts day and night |
|
Security |
Schooling. Not hiders. |
|
Size |
Over a foot eventually |
|
Foods |
Prefers live fish or shrimps |
|
Water |
Prefers slightly acid water but adapts to D.M. water |
|
|||
LA
Striped pike characins prefer to school with their own species (fish of
a feather ... etc).
LA
Hm ... This one does look a little marbley. Probably
Boulengerella maculata.
Prologue: Well, we bought these as "marble gars." We were given the scientific name "Lepisosteus oculatus" which is the spotted gar, a U.S. native gar. Turns out they are striped "gars" -- actually striped pike characins. Fish acquire different names in different parts of the country. The "gar" part looks logical. However, the "marble" description pretty much misses the boat on the top guys. Fits better on the second guy. We're getting two types of fish (one striped and one marbled) both with the incorrect common name and incorrect scientific name.
LA
His profile looks very gar-ish from here -- especially his teeth.
Even his eye.
Not Gars: Gars have hard ganoid scales that make them tougher than most predators. Bow hunters shooting at gar need to hit them square or their arrows tend to glance off. Pike characins are as squishy as your average fish.
LA
Striped pike characins can usually be found at the surface. Not
the best color here.
LA
When they adapt to their surroundings, they color up nicely.
Surface Lurkers: You need to cover these surface dwellers or they're likely to leap out. Another alternative -- add floating plants to keep them down. Floating plants also reduce their light level. Pike characins seem to prefer lower light levels.
LA
Fresh out of the bag, you can find them on the bottom. They're
also paler at first.
LA
So much better looking after they adjust to their new quarters.
LA
You bet they're predators. He's working on a too large fathead
minnow.
LA
Like most long-snouted fish, they have to swallow their food head first.
LA
He shifts it around toward the right direction.
LA
Got 'er lined up.
LA
Git 'er down.
Decided Predators: Striped pike characins definitely eat smaller fish. They also like ghost shrimp. They pretty much ignore flakes and pellets. They will probably convert to freeze-dried plankton. Maybe even F-D krill. Soak it first. The frozen plankton and krill may sink a little too fast. The F-D foods float.
LA
Plants provide some security.
Lazy Lurkers: Unless startled, your striped pike characin likes to loaf and look for prey. Some predators patrol for food like sharks. Striped pike characins prefer their prey to come to them.
LA
LA
LA
© 2008
LA Productions
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