Please id this gar

[Crustman]

This is my first and I got it free with the tank. I think it is a crocodile gar. The owner called it a alligator gar but I don't think this is right. It shines with gold scales especially around the head. It will eat shrimp from my fingers. It also likes it's goldfish. Crazy thing even comes to the surface to eat aro pellets.

 

[johnnylaw1984]

looks like a florida gar, but im no expert

 

[Crustman]

Oops sorry I posted the same pic twice.

 

[zennzzo]

From what I read; if the distance from the front of eye to the back of the gill plate is more than 2/3rds the lenght of the snout, it is a spotted gar, less than 2/3rds is a Florida Gar...
I say spotted gar based on that fact...
http://www.floridaconservation.org/fishing/Fishes/gar.html#florida

 

[Crustman]

Thanks, I will try to get some better pictures of it soon.

 

[fishyboi]

Its a spotted gar

 

[E_americanus]

From what I read; if the distance from the front of eye to the back of the gill plate is more than 2/3rds the lenght of the snout, it is a spotted gar, less than 2/3rds is a Florida Gar...
I say spotted gar based on that fact...
http://www.floridaconservation.org/fishing/Fishes/gar.html#florida

this diagnostic really doesn't hold true in practice and should generally be dropped. it MIGHT hold with some really large wild specimens, but even then it seems shaky.

the fish pictured here is a Florida gar as this is what you will see in the hobby for the most part these days...spotted gars are pretty infrequent as of lately.

the snout length at this point indicates that it's Lepisosteus platyrhincus. nice looking fish!--
--solomon

 

[Crustman]

Thanks again Solomon and everyone. Florida gar it is.

 

[1ra8der]

THIS IS A FLORIDA SPOTED GAR I HAVE ONE ALSO. EXEPT MINE IS REALLY SHY....

 

[Crustman]

Thanks Fredo but now I am really confused. Florida spotted gar. I thought Florida and spotted gars were separate species. This guy is not shy and takes shrimp from my hand.