Edit Atractosteus tropicus
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Name
Scientific name
Atractosteus tropicus
Described by
Authority Gill, Year 1863
Family
Lepisosteidae
Common names
Tropical Gar
Photograph credits
All 2 credited
Summary
The tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus, is a gar from Caribbean and Pacific-slope drainages of Central America, from southern Mexico to Co…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
1250mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Water movement Low: still or sluggish water
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 6–8.5
Hardness
5–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
Solitary or specimen
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Found in both Caribbean and Pacific-slope drainage basins in Central America, from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and into …
Habitat
Found in various habitats from large lakes and rivers to sluggish tributaries, backwaters and pools, and can surive in both fresh and brackish waters, but show…
Aquarium size
Suitable only for very large public installations.
Maintenance
Relatively unfussy provided water flow is not too strong and lighting not bright.
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Gars are ambush predators feeding on smaller fishes and aquatic crustaceans in nature. It can sometimes be tricky to get newly-introduced captive individuals t…
Behaviour and compatibility
Best kept alone, or with similarly-sized, non-aggressive fishes it cannot fit into its mouth.
Sexual dimorphism
Not written yet
Reproduction
Not bred in aquaria. In nature it tends to move into temporarily-inundated wetlands or floodplains to spawn during spring months where it may congregate in con…
Notes
This species clearly shouldn't be considered a home aquarium subject at all given its eventual size and the fact it can live for several decades. We include it…
References
References
No references