question about gars please help!

[trojan09]

i just bought a baby gar from my lfs dat is about 3 inches long. why does my baby gar have this one thing that is like sticking out from the top of its tail fin? in youtube videos i see it on other baby gars too but idk wat it is. and my other question is that y does my baby gar have such small pectoral fin? its like barely visable if u take a close look at it. will it get bigger as my gar grows? ohh and btw i got a tropical gar and i heard it was rare!

 

[sbuse]

gars have small pec fins, it will grow as the gar grows...not sure what the tail thing is, i'm sure some one knows...any pics?...congrats on the gar

 

[msjinkzd]

really need pics

 

[Conner]

I think I know what you're talking about with the tail fin. It seems to disappear as the gar grows larger. I'm not really sure what its for.

I circled in red what I think your talking about in this picture. Is that it?

 

[Noddy]

I got this from E-Americanus:
Some general info about juvenile/YOY gars:

-the have a fleshy/rayless filament above the caudal fin that they beat back and forth similar to a flagellum or a propeller. this is used in maneuverability and may also work as a distraction to predators (much like caudal spots do in other fishes).

I think thats it!
Congratz on your Gar.
Please post pictures soon!

 

[Conner]

I got this from E-Americanus:
Some general info about juvenile/YOY gars:

-the have a fleshy/rayless filament above the caudal fin that they beat back and forth similar to a flagellum or a propeller. this is used in maneuverability and may also work as a distraction to predators (much like caudal spots do in other fishes).

I think thats it!
Congratz on your Gar.
Please post pictures soon!

That's pretty much along the lines I was thinking.

 

[trojan09]

ya dats wat im talking about conner thnx bud...