PIC of BABY ALLIGATOR GAR

[Polypterus]

i'm starting to think it's a possible longnose as well. they have very short noses at this small of a size and i tend to see more small longnoses than any other gar species in the hobby.

At 3 inches a longnosed is easily identified. There snout is pretty much fully formed, is narrow and long, and close to adult proportions. The body shape is also distinctly different.. Really the only species difficult at this size are the Octulaus, Platyrhincus and Platostomus. All three of these are very similar and can be challenging to tell apart.

 

[demjor19]

At 3 inches a longnosed is easily identified. There snout is pretty much fully formed, is narrow and long, and close to adult proportions. The body shape is also distinctly different.. Really the only species difficult at this size are the Octulaus, Platyrhincus and Platostomus. All three of these are very similar and can be challenging to tell apart.

at 3 inches? i am doubting that the average person would be able to id a
3" gar that easily.

 

[Polypterus]

at 3 inches? i am doubting that the average person would be able to id a
3" gar that easily.

Average person seems to not be able to ID a characin from Lepisosteid but with just a bit of research one can ID gars to genus and in some cases species at 3 inches.. Info is out there.

Really long nosed are very obvious and you can easily separate out Oculatus / Platyrhincus and platostomus as a group from any of the Atractosteus at this size...

Top photo L. osseus 2 inches
Bottom 3 inches..

 

[demjor19]

Average person seems to not be able to ID a characin from Lepisosteid but with just a bit of research one can ID gars to genus and in some cases species at 3 inches.. Info is out there.

Really long nosed are very obvious and you can easily separate out Oculatus / Platyrhincus and platostomus as a group from any of the Atractosteus at this size...

Top photo L. osseus 2 inches
Bottom 3 inches..

great pics! now that i can actually see a 2-3 longnose it is pretty obvious. just out of curiosity do you have any pics of similar sized fish for the remaining 3 lepisosteus (Oculatus/Platyrhincus, and platostomus)? i do agree though...L. osseus at this size does seem pretty obvious.

 

[Polypterus]

great pics! now that i can actually see a 2-3 longnose it is pretty obvious. just out of curiosity do you have any pics of similar sized fish for the remaining 3 lepisosteus (Oculatus/Platyrhincus, and platostomus)? i do agree though...L. osseus at this size does seem pretty obvious.

You know I have been meaning to get Oculatus / Platyrhincus pics at this size for a long time but just never have yet.. I'll have to make a point out of doing that. Platostomus are very similar. The Major difference in most cases is the lateral band is deeper and more distinct in Oculatus / Platyrhincus.

Pic is of a 3 1/2 inch Platostomus

 

[Polypterus]

At this size however.... All hope is lost at an ID without knowing the fish from the locality .. (In this case I know it is a Longnosed as it is one of my study fish and populations) I have had platostomus, Oculatus and platyrhincus of the same size and they all look pretty much the same.

 

[demjor19]

yep...now i can def. see the difference between the short and longnose. the longnose in the last pic...how big is that? maybe 3/4 to 1 inch? that's really cool!

 

[fishluvr510]

Those are cool!I want to raise one of those fishes but unable to find them in the bay area.

 

[rednhot]

in your first pic of L. osseus 2 inches what is that in the tank around him...daphnia or brine shrimp? is that what they eat at that size? insect larva, other fish fry,...etc?

the long nose pic that is 3/4 to an inch, whats the story behind that pic...is that your hand?

i'd like to know if you would mind saying a few things about gars at that size that the average gar keeper might not know about. nothing specific or drawn out, just a few quickies if there is any.
---Art

 

[demjor19]

in your first pic of L. osseus 2 inches what is that in the tank around him...daphnia or brine shrimp? is that what they eat at that size? insect larva, other fish fry,...etc?

the long nose pic that is 3/4 to an inch, whats the story behind that pic...is that your hand?

i'd like to know if you would mind saying a few things about gars at that size that the average gar keeper might not know about. nothing specific or drawn out, just a few quickies if there is any.
---Art

i think cannibalism is a big issue when keeping more than one gar at that size.