Gar Quiz - the return - ID the fish

[sbuse]

is there a way to test for a hybrid? for some reason i still am thinking it is not a pure shortnose...there is something pulling me away from that answer...

 

[jerzyperson]

science is the only way to tell, and that is far to much stress on a fish if the keeper wishes to keep the fish alive.

 

[Madding]

science is the only way to tell, and that is far to much stress on a fish if the keeper wishes to keep the fish alive.

I would normally agree, but there is a good chance that this shortnose is already in a lab equipped with the proper technology to run the tests. Probably wise to wait until it is larger, though, before taking clippings.

 

[E_americanus]

science is the only way to tell, and that is far to much stress on a fish if the keeper wishes to keep the fish alive.

actually we are raising several gars right now where we will use tissue samples to determine their genetic make-up.

we've already done this with several specimens, in the case of this fish and a few others, it's cheaper to raise them to a larger size and see if we can properly ID them, than to take fin clips at a tiny size and spend the $$ on DNA/mtDNA processing (also safer to clip the fish when they are this size or larger as opposed to 1").

so you can be sure we'll be running the DNA on this specimen...we used similar methods to definitively ID the Croc II gar as a gator x oculatus cross (as opposed to a gator x platyrhincus cross...although we narrowed it down to those two based on morphology, etc).--
--solomon

 

[E_americanus]

I would normally agree, but there is a good chance that this shortnose is already in a lab equipped with the proper technology to run the tests. Probably wise to wait until it is larger, though, before taking clippings.

good call michael, that's exactly where it is right now. i can take clippings now since it's big enough, but i want to get him a bit larger before messing around with him. he's got an interesting story to him as well...as soon as i gather up the pics i'll post that too--
--solomon

 

[Madding]

Sounds good. Let me know if you ever have any confirmed hybrids you want to ship on my way to earn some funding for your research.

 

[jerzyperson]

ok then, lol. talk about extreme gar collector lol. im dieing to get my hands on some gar. you know who to send em' too. right here!!!

 

[sbuse]

Let me know if you ever have any confirmed hybrids you want to ship on my way to earn some funding for your research.

i second this, only to my way aswell...

i asked about the dna tests cause i knew were it was and that it was accessible...also that it wouldn't be that fare off to want to see do to the high chance of it being a wild hybrid...would be interesting to see...

i am currently working on getting some permits to go collect some wild shortnose and longnose gars from MN...the lady i am talking to is helping with the permit questions, but i don't think she has realized yet that i am capible of catching transporting and raising these fish...i think from her reply she thinks i am some kid that wants to keep more then my limits...i was asking about some other collection permits aswell for the trade as i can get alot of wc of just about everything native to MN...

 

[E_americanus]

ok next quiz...figured i would just keep posting in this thread so new photos/discussion/etc are all in one place as well.

when ID'ing the fishes, please start with the fish in the UPPER LEFT and go CLOCKWISE that way we can all be using the same pattern/direction of ID, thanks

good luck!--
--solomon

 

[Madding]

Here are my initial guesses without looking at any ID threads. I will edit it as I research:

Top left: LNG
Bottom left: Spotted
Top right: Croc II
Right lower: Florida
Right lowest: Florida