Seriously Fish
AdminAccount
AdminAccount

Hobbyist group · Other groups

Lepisosteiformes

Every lepisosteiformes profile.

Species
4
Families
1
Genera
2
Photographed
4 of 4
Difficulty rated
4 of 4
A two metre adult specimen caught as part of a research project in the Brazos River, Texas, United States.

Atractosteus spatulaAlligator Gar

Lepisosteidae · Lacepède, 1803

Max length
3050mm SL120in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
11–23°C52–73°F
pH
6.0–8.0

This is one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world, and clearly shouldn't be considered a home aquarium subject at all given its eventual size and the fact it can live for well in excess of 50 years. We include it here only because some public aquaria are able to maintain it long-term. Unfortunately, juveniles are seen for sale quite regularly in the aquari...

Moderate
1 field missing
Juvenile specimen...

Atractosteus tropicusTropical Gar

Lepisosteidae · Gill, 1863

Max length
1250mm SL49in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
22–28°C72–82°F
pH
6.0–8.5

Found in both Caribbean and Pacific-slope drainage basins in Central America, from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and into Costa Rica. 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.

Moderate
1 field missing
Subadult individual.

Lepisosteus oculatusSpotted Gar

Lepisosteidae · Winchell, 1864

Max length
1250mm SL49in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
12–20°C54–68°F
pH
6.0–8.0

Known from Great Lakes Erie and Michigan with distribution extending south through the Mississippi River basin to the Gulf of Mexico drainages where it's said to occur between the lower Apalachicola River in Florida and the Nueces River in Texas. It may also be found in the Rio Grande which forms the border between Mexico and the United States further south where records include Falcon International Reservoir, for example.

Moderate
1 field missing
Subadult specimen.

Atractosteus tristoechusCuban Gar

Lepisosteidae · Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Max length
1800mm SL71in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded

Endemic to Cuba where it's found throughout western parts of the island plus Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth, formerly known as the Isle of Pines). It's endangered across most of this range and captive breeding efforts are well-established. Known locally in Cuba as 'manjuari', it clearly shouldn't be considered a home aquarium subject...

Moderate
3 fields missing