Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

The Spotted Gar is a living fossil of North American waters, impressive with its elongated, torpedo-shaped body, distinctive spotted pattern, and calm, powerful presence. Lepisosteus oculatus usually moves gracefully through the aquarium and unfolds its impressive effect especially in very large tanks.

This species is a specialized fish predator and has the ability to breathe air, which makes it extremely robust. Nevertheless, the Spotted Gar requires a lot of space, excellent water quality, and an absolutely secure aquarium cover. Due to its final size and predatory behavior, this species is only suitable for experienced aquarists.

Care data:
Final size: approx. 90–120 cm
Origin: North America (USA)
Temperature: 20–26 °C
pH value: 6.5–8.0
Total hardness: soft to medium hard
Social behavior: solitary, predatory; smaller fish are eaten
Aquarium size: from approx. 2000 l, large footprint, stable cover
Food: Carnivore – whole fish, fish fillets, shrimp, mussel meat