Alligator gar

Atractosteus spatula

A heavily armoured, stout gar with a short broad snout, olive-grey adult body and spotted rear fins.

Water temperature: 11–23 °C
Lifespan: Up to 23.3 years
pH: 6–8
Hardness: 5–25 dGH

A multi-metre fish unsuitable for ordinary home aquaria. Sources use conflicting length bases; maximum records are not typical adult TL.

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Appearance and identification

A heavily armoured, stout gar with a short broad snout, olive-grey adult body and spotted rear fins. Florida gar is slimmer and has a narrower snout. Trade terms such as crocodile gar may include hybrids and do not establish identity.

Same-species behaviour

A quiet ambush posture and air breathing do not make it an easy or safe community fish.

Space requirements

A multi-metre fish unsuitable for ordinary home aquaria. Sources use conflicting length bases; maximum records are not typical adult TL. Complete minimum footprint unknown.

Diet and feeding

Predatory; some fish need gradual adjustment to dead foods. Live feeders are not a risk-free default.

Compatibility limits

Its size and turning needs exceed ordinary planted tanks; small fish and shrimp risk predation.

Sources