Gar behavior - they're pretty smart

[CTU2fan]

That was kind of what I though, so I had pretty low expectations for my gar (that's probably why I was impressed; if it had been a cichlid I wouldn't have given it a 2nd thought).

I'd heard that about the puffers, and the batfish.

 

[Polypterus]

Gars definitely are not the brightest fish. They do some rather odd things though that might look intelligent but to the fish they are just repeating a behavior that has allowed them to be so persistent. Two things generally drive these fish in captivity... Food and shelter ("Get air" might be a close third).. Most behaviors you see are them tackling one or the other in some manner.

That said they still are a predator and as such are not quite "doornail" stupid. They know how to get what they want and can be doggedly persistent about it.