Weird tailfin?

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I

iManipulate

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2009
175
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Montreal, Quebec
I snatched up two small spotted gars today and I noticed something reallly weird about them. You know on their tailfin, when they're young they have a little part that sticks up on the top of it?? I don't know what its called. The ones I got today are the same size as my other gar I had since he was 2", they're about 5" and the new ones have super long finny things. It sticks past the end of their tailfins and it looks like a little finger when they swim.

Does anyone know what this is, or if it's bad or anything? I'm still trying to get a picture of it but I've been unlucky up to this point.

Any ideas?
 
Here's my MS paint rendition of it.

11gj1nc.jpg
 
they have it when they r young. they will lose it eventually
 
As stated by 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).
 
My Longnose had one about that long, he didn't fully lose it until recently, at about 12 inches....
 
Thanks for the relief guys, the first two gars I bought were 2 - 3" and they never had that so I was pretty worried. The first gar I got has a twisted spine and a lump on his head so I was worrying I got more defected gars.
 
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