Spotted Marbled Gar

Lepisosteus oculatus

The Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) is a primitive freshwater fish of the family Lepisosteidae, native to North America from the Lake Erie and southern Lake Michigan drainages south through the Mississippi River basin to Gulf Slope drainages, from lower Apalachicola River in Florida to Nueces River in Texas, USA.

It has a profusion of dark spots on the body, head and fins.  Spotted gar are long and have an elongated mouth with many teeth used to eat other fish.  They can grow to 20-30 inches in length and weigh 4-6 pounds on average in the wild making it the smallest gar out of the four species of gar.  The name Lepisosteus is Greek for "bony scale".  Habitat for spotted gar is clear pools of shallow water and they are found in creeks, rivers and lakes.

The Gar is piscivore (fish eater) that does well with similar sized fish and can be kept in small groups.  Any fish small enough to fit the extendable mouth  should not be housed with this capable hunter.  This predatory fish will remain motionless until small prey is within striking distance.  With a rapid lunge, the Gar captures its prey by extending its mouth, in a net-like fashion, and surrounding the prey.  Easy care perfect for most aquarists.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A WAIT ON SPOTTED GARS