damn i sure do know how to pick the wrong fish
ok ill try re-home them. i always fall into the trap of impulse buying as i like the odd fish.
oh well
thanks a lot
teres

They are lovely fish I know. Without wishing to sound patronising, but it is not your fault. The LFS should be giving the correct advise to you before you buy them. But like so many shops these days, all they care about is getting stock in, getting stock out, ching ching, money in the till. Then when problems arise you go back to them and they sell you a remedy you don't need. This becomes a vicious cycle, and sadly its the fish that suffer. I wish you all the best with getting them rehomed, ring around a few of the local public aquaria, and see if they know of anybody who may take them. Ditto the Checkerboard...

Jaguar

thank ye ill try. been trying with the checkerboard no luck though if he doesn't find a home ill have to set up a new tank for him.

Hey bro I had my hujeta gar he’s about ten years old in a predator tank. My arowana was fine with him till one day he snapped. I have a community tank it’s well planted and has three discus in their as well as Mollys. Recently I put a peacock bass and a red tailed catfish and a bichir in their just till they get big enough for my predator tank. Everyone is doing very well together I feed them frozen shrimp and frozen fish I thaw out. I talked to a guy that got JUMBO
CARNISTICKS Hikani makes them

My Hujeta eats those carnisticks I break them in half. They have more nutrients then a goldfish and parasite free. He has been eating these a stick sometimes two a day strongly suggest giving these a try.

TheLeprechaun, your reply will fall on deaf ears, the thread was started and finished 14 years ago. Those that did post have left the forum, I suggest you check the date a post was made before your waste your time again

To determine whether your two hujeta gars (also known as Ctenolucius hujeta, silver gar, rocket gar, freshwater barracuda & silver-pike characin) are exhibiting breeding behaviour, we need to analyze several factors, including their physical condition, behaviour, and environmental conditions.

1. Observing Behavioral Changes

The first step is to consider the lunging behaviour you observed. Lunging can be a sign of aggression or territoriality, especially if it is a new behaviour that has not been seen before. However, in some fish species, such behaviours can also indicate courtship or mating rituals.

Aggression vs. Breeding:
In many fish species, males may exhibit aggressive behaviours towards each other during breeding seasons to establish dominance or territory. If one of your gars is larger in the belly area, this could suggest that it is female and potentially carrying eggs.
2. Physical Condition of the Fish

You mentioned that one of the gars appears larger in the belly area. This could indicate several things:

Egg Development:
If the fish is indeed female and has a swollen belly, it may be developing eggs. Female gars can become noticeably larger when they are ready to spawn.

Health Issues:
While less likely given your description of their overall health for the past year, a swollen belly could also indicate health issues such as overfeeding or internal problems.

3. Environmental Factors

You noted that you had fed cucumber recently and were concerned about ammonia levels. Although you tested for ammonia and found it at 0, it’s essential to ensure that water quality remains optimal for both fish:

Water Quality: Poor water quality can lead to stress in fish, which might cause unusual behaviours like aggression or lunging. Regular testing for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH levels and ensuring proper filtration will help maintain a healthy environment.

Breeding Conditions: Gars typically require specific conditions for breeding; these include appropriate tank size, water temperature (usually warmer), and suitable hiding spots for spawning.

4. Conclusion: Are They Breeding?

Based on your observations—specifically, the lunging behaviour combined with one fish appearing larger in the belly area—it is plausible that they may be engaging in breeding behaviour rather than aggression alone. However, without more definitive signs such as nesting or visible eggs being laid (which can be difficult with gars), it’s challenging to confirm this definitively.

If you continue to observe this behaviour alongside other signs like increased activity or changes in feeding patterns (e.g., reduced appetite), it would further support the idea of breeding activity.

In summary: Yes, it is possible that your hujeta gars are exhibiting breeding behavior given the circumstances you’ve described.