Gar ID Please? Lepisosteus or Atractosteus?

[E_americanus]

good job on the id

you may want to be more specific as to whom you are saying this to...there were two incorrect posts along with the accurate one early on.

i don't get gar ID's correct every single time, but it does baffle me when someone says they are not a gar expert but can still "definitely" exclude one of the species (with no background reasoning provided)...especially when they are excluding the correct ID species.

gator gar.--
--solomon

 

[SnaKeheAdSrAwSomE]

it looks exactly like a juvenile gator.
atractosteus spatula 100%

 

[T@nkbuster]

Apologies to the OP for the misinformation. Actually meant to say 'think' rather than 'definitely', case of fingers faster than brain. Awesome pick-up.

 

[Sidrock]

Hmmm... So some people (probably other newbies like me) made a wrong ID... Can we just let it go?

Those of us who have been here slightly longer know that advice and information from Solomon (and Alex et al.) is always going to be more accurate than others who are probably just trying to help.

So these are 100% Aligator Gars!!

It's a pretty big deal.. I don't think I know anyone in India who has these..

I am going to start working on prepping up the large well I have in our house in the country and will put a pond filter..(As unlike the catfish in it, I don't think these Gators will survive in that "pond" without filtration.) I think I have about 18 months years before they get too big for a 6x2.5 footprint tank.

Looking forward to a lot more advice from the experts here, and also to sharing the experience to witness these spectacular monsters grow

Both these guys are exactly 4 inches (TL) as on August 8, 2010.

(I have to run to get to work.. I will post pictures taken with a scale)

Thank you everybody (especially Solomon and Alex),

Sid

 

[xander]

you may want to be more specific as to whom you are saying this to...there were two incorrect posts along with the accurate one early on.

i don't get gar ID's correct every single time, but it does baffle me when someone says they are not a gar expert but can still "definitely" exclude one of the species (with no background reasoning provided)...especially when they are excluding the correct ID species.

gator gar.--
--solomon

thanks, i had merged 2 identical threads, & in the process my response was shifted much further down. have already gone back to edit it.

 

[tnaylorj]

this is without a doubt an alligator gar.....the tail shape, large eye, and distinct pattern just give it away for this juvie

 

[Ryan k6]

i am new at keeping gars but i would say it is a gator due to the large eyes and short broad snout.