Alligator gar..some expert advice?

[Kilograms]

Hello fellow gar lovers.
So currently I have 2 alligator gars in a 600g ( yes I know how big they get. I'm in the process of building something much much bigger) and I've noticed one of them is very dark in color. I was wondering if it is melanistic or just naturally dark? It doesn't appear to be stress. I thought the color would fade but it has been a month now and it's the same color. It eats just as much as the other one. The lighter colored one is the normal gar.Let me know what you think



Ps. Apologies for the atrocious camera skills

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

They can vary, at least I have seen them this dark before but IDK if this is for life or what to make of it. Can't say I've seen them this dark among the adults at Public Aquaria or on fishing photos.

 

[Kilograms]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.ive seen quite a few of these guys but this one is almost black

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

If you are into morphs, you may be in luck and it is a melanistic one. It sounds and looks like it. Would be rare probably. Color morph collectors may offer you a good amount for it.

 

[Kilograms]

Well I picked him up as a regular gator gar and assumed his colorings were due to stress in a new environment but he never lightened up

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I don't think gars darken up in response to stress. If anything I'd think they don't change colors or lighten up.

In fact I struggle to name any fish that darkens up from stress. Probably poor memory. Can you name any?

Fish darken up on dark background and substrate but this merely camouflage, not stress.

 

[Kilograms]

Now that i think about it you're right. I have had fish that are paler when I got them then darkened up but never the other way around. I'm still very unsure about if this guy is a color morph or not though. Hard to say

 

[dthatcherjr]

The color is pretty common . They can be dark Brown, olive ,or gray .