The shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) is the smallest of the gar species, measuring up to 0.6 metre (2 feet) from head to tail. The shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) typically feeds on insects, fish, and crayfish.
What is the smallest species of Alligator Gar?
Adult spotted gar are perhaps the easiest to identify due to the presence of dark spots on the head, body and fins. They are also the smallest of the gar species when fully grown, reaching just under four feet in length and about 15 pounds.
What size tank do gar need?
For a 3-4 foot gar, something around 500 or 600 gallons is about right. A fully size, tankbuster of an Alligator Gar would need a tank 40 feet long and 20 feet wide (about 10-12 thousand gallons). Sure, you can keep a young gar in a 200 gallon tank, for a time.
What is a 3 foot gar?
A 3-foot gar is typically about 2.5 years old; a 4-foot gar about 5, and a 7-foot trophy catch might be 40 years old. The world record, caught in Mississippi in 2011, weighed 327 pounds and was probably at least 95. Alligator gar are slow to mature; they usually don't spawn until they are about 10 years old.
What is the average size of a gar?
Mature alligator gar commonly measure 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh over 100 lb (45 kg). However, anecdotal reports suggest they can grow up to 10 ft (3 m) in length, and weigh as much as 350 lb (159 kg).
What’s the difference between an alligator gar and a gar?
Identification: All gars have long and slender bodies, beak-like jaws, and large, diamond-shaped scales. Alligator Gar is the largest species, reaching 9 ft. (300 lbs). It is distinguished from other gars by its short, broad snout, and heavy body.
What’s the difference between a Florida gar and alligator gar?
Unlike the Florida gar, the alligator gar's upper jaw has two rows of sharp teeth to hold its prey. The Alligator Gar is as skilled in hunting as Florida gar, both stalk and ambush their prey. Alligator gar are also known to eat small mammals and waterfowl that they see floating on the water's surface.
Can you keep gar in an aquarium?
Because of their toughness, gars are easy to keep in the home aquarium as long as you're able to supply a steady diet of live fishes, or wean them over to other high-protein fare. Young gar, because of their fast metabolism, will waste away if not fed at least a couple of feeder-size guppies a day.