Alligator and Florida Hybrid

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M|L

M|L

the asian
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2005
5,368
14
92
MY LITTLE WORLD
www.facebook.com
I normally don't post photos outside of the Photo Lounge, but I thought I would share my excitement with you gar fanatics.

This is my most recent pick up of a 4" baby.

I've had lots of gars before, and I have yet to come across this hybrid, which I've longed of having:
 
I got it in Chinatown. ;)

I'm not 100% positive on the identification, since it's only a juvenile fish and I've never seen them for sale in the past.

However, I've seen plenty of photos. I'm not exactly new to gar keeping either.

Just about all gars sold in pet stores are born and raised in Florida. Hence, why they're usually sold simply as Florida gars. But as we all know, there is virtually little to no difference between the spotted and the florida gars which leads many to suspect that many are actually cross bred.

Now, continuing on to my fish. We all know that alligator gars have a very distinct look from that of the spotted/florida/shortnose/longnose gars. I have seen plenty of juvenile alligator gars in person, and this fish that I've just purchased bare the resemblance of both florida and alligator gars. They are also the only gar hybrid that's been circulating the pet trade for the last few years.
 
It does not appear to have the normal "look" of a Spatula X platyrhincus Nor a Spatula X platostomus. I'm also not aware of anyone actually producing these fish anymore unless someone has picked up where the single source of the fish left off or this a a rare natural hybrid.

IMO it looks like a shortnose but can't really be certian given the angle of the pic
It is hard to tell by the pic any id characteristics. Could you post some clear side pics as well as some from above?
 
i agree with polypterus on this one. he and i have discussed these hybrids in great depth, and have both kept the main hybrid which was moving through the trade a few years ago, which is the alligator x shortnose hybrid, commonly referred to as the crocodile gar. i also have a gar which is definitely an alligator x Florida (or spotted) hybrid, of which i have not seen another individual anywhere...which could mean it's a wild hybrid, but it's difficult to know for certain.

anyway, getting back to the fish in question; as polypterus said, the fish pictured does not match up with what i have seen of the juvenile stages of either crocodile gar type (i've kept both types when they were just a few inches long), and looks at this point to be a Lepisosteus genus gar. time will tell, but at this point i would say it's doubtful that it's a hybrid.

either way, it's a nice looking fish, so congrats on the pick up!--
--solomon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom