Spotted gar - breathe above the water?

[Polypterus]

Yeah i agree with the statement above, Enough water movement at that top obviously creates more Oxygen in the water but i also have a question does the time in between each time a Gar goes to the top to gather O2 fluctuate depending on the amount of water movement on the surface?

Somewhat...But it has much to due with O2 saturation level and Temp.. Problem with gars is the little sensor in their heads reads O2 but another reads temp.. Here is where things can get weird.. A gar at a certain temp can think enough O2 is present to not have to breathe air but the temp sensor cuts the gills off somewhat anyhow and diverts more bloodflow to the air bladder.. What happens is the fish drowns because of this contradiction. This is one of those little things to know about Gars.. Kind of difficult to explain all this but really 90% of the time a regular fishkeeper does not have to think about this.. It only really is an issue in special circumstances.

 

[rostratusgar]

Pejelajarto thank you for your contribution.

 

[josh.lunsford2]

my spotted florida gar goes to the top and get air after he eats but i don't see him do it any other time.