Roughly the following seem to be accepted averages based on documentation both peer reviewed and anecdotal:Lepisosteus platyrhincus;2449334; said:so richard or solomon what is the max captive sizes for the diff species of gar?
Atractosteus:
Alligator gar (A. spatula): 15 to 24 inches first year. 5 foot average adult size
Tropical gar (A. tropicus) 12 to 15 inches first year, 2 foot average adult size (Unestablished)
Cuban gar ( A. tristoechus) 12 to 15 inches first year, 3 foot average adult size (Unestablished)
Lepisosteus:
Longnosed gar (L.osseus) 12 to 14 inches first year, 2.5 to 3 foot adult size
Shortnosed gar (L. platostomus) 12 to 14 inches first year, 2 foot adult size
Spotted gar (L. oculatus) 10 to 12 inches first year, 2 foot adult size
Florida gar (L. platyrhincus) 12 inches first year, 2 foot adult size
Hybrids are very much undocumented but have been shown to mirror the species crossed with an intermediate plateau point. For example the L. platostomus X A. spatula hybrids maxed out at 14 inches the first year. Actual adult size is unknown. Currently (11-21-08) most are around 25 to 27 inches. These fish are all from 2003 stock.
Variations in the growth of any of these fish has been documented. Differences in husbandry can alter averages to Larger or smaller..