Just picked up a Gar for $12

[Deadliestviper7]

You cannot tell by looking at a gar, whether it's a Florida or spotted gar. Nor can u tell the gender.
That is incorrect,floridas and spots have different patterning and usually a different color.

 

[Frank Castle]

You cannot tell by looking at a gar, whether it's a Florida or spotted gar. Nor can u tell the gender.

Only by collection point and trusting ur lfs. But there are numerous Florida gars in most lfs. By default without knowing anything else it'll probably be a Florida gar.

I can tell on an adult, but these were also 28"-35" adults

That is incorrect,floridas and spots have different patterning and usually a different color.

this is exactly what I meant when it comes to adults

 

[kno4te]

Lepisosteus ...tag ur it! Lol!

 

[Lepisosteus]

Most likely a Florida. Usually I pay around $30 each for floridas unless they are a trade in fish in which they are around $10. As others have said it is very difficult near impossible to tell the difference between Florida and spotted by looking at them. There used to be this one method of IDing of looking at a scale or one of the gill plates but this is difficult and harms the fish. If your lfs sells it, it's probably a Florida

 

[Frank Castle]

Most likely a Florida. Usually I pay around $30 each for floridas unless they are a trade in fish in which they are around $10. As others have said it is very difficult near impossible to tell the difference between Florida and spotted by looking at them. There used to be this one method of IDing of looking at a scale or one of the gill plates but this is difficult and harms the fish. If your lfs sells it, it's probably a Florida

Are Gars slow-growers?

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Are Gars slow-growers?

You looking at 12~14 inches in their first year!

 

[Frank Castle]

You looking at 12~14 inches in their first year!

oh....i wouldn't consider that slow then

 

[Lepisosteus]

Are Gars slow-growers?

No. Easy 12" in the year mine hit 16" in a year

 

[Frank Castle]

No. Easy 12" in the year mine hit 16" in a year

what did your diet for him consist of in entirety ?

 

[Frank Castle]

Yup, no joke - he's about 6" or so, came to $13.77 after tax - did I get a good deal? He is too small for me to tell what species it is, but i'm leaning toward either Spotter or Florida.

Anyone know how to tell them apart as juveniles? What foods will they favor besides live feederfish and am I going to have a PITA trying to get him to take frozen/thawed? Does anyone ever get these guys to eat pellets or flakes or anything along those lines?

How about suitable tankmates, obviously nothing that can fit in his mouth I guess?

Any more information anyone can tell me?

Here's a few pics