11 replies to this topic

[Jules]

Has anybody kept these guys in aquaria? If so experiences and recommendations please.
Also, can we get them, if so please give me some direction guys, closest thing I'll get to a gar that I won't have to sell a limb for. I've seen them available before within the past year.
They'll be in a 7x3x2 tank so it's not a bad size.

[ice]

I remember when Malaga was still open a whole bunch came in, just about every one had most of its snout knocked off. Apparently they are very flighty and are prone to stress and overreacting to small things like lights and someone walking past the tank.

 

I think if you had a really big tank or a pond you might get away with it, a 7x3 wide would probably suffice. They do reach 1m in the wild i'm told and i've seen and caught them and they are bloody lightning fast and aggressive hunters.

 

If you manage to get some let me know, would love to check them out. 

[shayne]

no experience with the freshwater toms but if there anything like their marine cousins +1 would love to see it work though

[Jules]

im sure some were for sale not within the past year.

youtube and some MFK members have kept them before, once they settle there good apparently.

[bigjohnnofish]

the saltwater toms make great bait for mackies lol

not too bad if you eat them fresh or make sushi with them

[Michael the fish fanatic]

Here are some pics of them at this pet shop I went to today in penang, 3 of there money is $1 aus:

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Edited by Michael the fish fanatic, 15 July 2014 - 08:47 PM.

[Peckoltia]

They are not the same fish Michael.

Jules - they are notoriously difficult to keep, I would steer clear of them. More often than not end up looking busted up, which detracts from them being a nice display fish.

[bigjohnnofish]

hey i still have some half beaks from when kev in malaga was still in business... they did breed a few times and i think im left with some of the fry's fry pretty cool little fish but i like the look of them giant half beaks - can we get them in australia... on the import list anyone ?

[Jules]

I could find little info on them nut a lot of thing si read said they do bust the nose and look tatty in the aquarium.

+1 with johnno then if we can get the giant half beaks.

[bigjohnnofish]

just have to buy them small and they'd look like normal half beaks lol !!!!!

[malawiman85]

I read on another forum recently about a couple guys that have kept longtoms. Successfully too, from their reports. Apparently they settle down ok, just have to be pretty careful to begin with.
I think Dave from Aquagreen kept them successfully too.

[Jules]

yeah I have read several posts too. a lot of eastern staters would catch them for there home aquariums. smaller then better they said, and transporting them seemed to cause a lot of stress and damage to the fish.