How to tell the difference with Florida/spotted Gar and Pike characin?

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andrewsin

andrewsin

Dovii
MFK Member
Feb 19, 2010
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london
I'm about to buy a gar, but was just seeing if anyone could give some tips on how to tell the difference with pike characins and Florida/spotted gar because they seen to look very similar! Also how to choose a nice gar out of the batch?

Thanks


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First off, if you know gar its very obvious which is which.

PIKE characin
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...3&tbnw=195&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

GAR
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...tart=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&tx=72&ty=44

If i were you i would pick the one with the darkest color and most color. The black lateral line is a giveaway for the gars. The bigger and darker it is (hopefully) the more dark spots you will get! did this help at all? you can always post a pic here for us to id before you buy. ;)
 
ampthefrogguy said:
First off, if you know gar its very obvious which is which.

PIKE characin
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...3&tbnw=195&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

GAR
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...tart=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&tx=72&ty=44

If i were you i would pick the one with the darkest color and most color. The black lateral line is a giveaway for the gars. The bigger and darker it is (hopefully) the more dark spots you will get! did this help at all? you can always post a pic here for us to id before you buy. ;)
Click to expand...

Hmmm wait... isn't those two both pike characins? one is the lateristriga and the other is the maculata? (boullengerella) -sp-

Is there any specific markings/shape that is diff to gar and pike characin?
 
No, the second picture is definitely a juvenile gar. Biggest difference: gars don't have forked tail fins.
 
Oh so a gar have one tail fin? and not two... I see...
it's because the second picture shown looks really similar to my pike characin, in terms of colour!
not sure about the tail, i think its forked
 
The second picture is FOR SURE two baby florida gars...no forked tail...definitely not a huejeta or other pike characin...

young gars DO have a tail filament along the top that is sometimes seperate from the rest of the tail. as seen in my pictures.
 
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