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i love him,

http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/BettaChris_Fish/aquatic%20predators/?action=view&current=DSC00356.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch9

when he was in a holding tank, he jumped out on the floor when i was eatting dinner, so i had to run and rescue him.

what type of gar is he.

spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

http://www.blackwarriorriver.org/spotted%20gar.htm

i think it might be a spotted gar, but i was also told that it could be a florida gar.

which is a big difference, as the florida gar should max out at a bout 10 feet.

but thanks for that link, i will just have to wait til his true colors show so we can positivly id him.

He looks big whatever he is!

*Kristin*

no problem bettachris
well, that beast really looks very beautiful. My LFS brought two of them last weekend (thats when i did a bit of research on their species) but they were pretty young, 8 inches or so. He mistakenly put them in a tank full of ghost shrimps...in an hour, the poor man was looking for any single shrimp alive but cudn't find one that really is a beasty behaviour for an 8 incher
by the way, what should be arranged if one plans to keep one? well, they've already scared me so im not gonna get one in near future ...just curious...

from the info i researched and observed in 1 day:

-peaceful with larger cichlids etc... Arowanas i heard mixed results, but i have my little silver arowana in there with no problems.
-The guy at the lfs told me that it should be fine with 78-80 *F water.
-an expert i contacted said that by using the starving method it will eat (human edible) shrimp, baitfish, instead of using feeders for health reasons, but if you notice that he won't eat for awhile than give him a feeder and try again.
- as far as tanking: the kid(BTW he was the nicest lfs worker i have ever meet. knew kinda alot N.E way) at the lfs told me that it is a florida gar and that it should only get a foot or two bigger. Which wont happen. Your site said 3-4 feet, but one of my books said that the florida gar will reach 5 feet.

but surprisingly he is very calm when i go by him, and often shy when it is feeding time.

With the ID the spot arrangement looks like a spotted gar, but since he is still young his pattern can change, But the one thing that kinda leans toward the flordia gar side is the jaw and how and where it located in the head.

But if you do plan one getting one, a big tank with a good cover. Really not that hard to take care of, not overall dangerous but he does have some pointy teeth. And i beleive that they can live together(more than one) given you have enough room. And a wide tank is best for him to be able to turn.

and they will get big, but it will be some good experience (better than me try to handle my electric catfish RIP) Very hardy and since there really isn't a big market on them they are closer to the wild stock and very good,hardy fish. if you can provide i would try one.

Great info...thanks chris.
Tank mates have to be BIG...anything it can swallow, or even have a try at is difficult to survive. Thats from my LFS person and he seems to know quite a bit abt them as well..more like an arowana.
still have no ideas about the water conditions and other requirements. so for the time being i'll stay away from getting one...and anyway, my current stock wont survive that beast..
but i have to say, takes a bit of taste to dedicate a tank for a gar

have a look at the photo
http://www.aquarticles.com/images/China%203b/p15%20Lepisosteus%20platyrhincus%20Florida%20gar.jpg

i know personally a arwoana was a bad mistake. i did find my silver arowana having teeth marks on his body, so i removed him.

i guess once they are big they should mellow out.
again they dont seem very picky on water parameters.

probably ph- 6.9-7.9