Florida Spotted Gar

The Spotted Gar, which you might also hear referred to as Lepisosteus oculatus, is a North American freshwater fish that lives in rivers and lakes. 

Tank Size

The Spotted Gar is not a fish that’s easily kept in a home aquarium. This is, partially, due to the fact that Spotted Gars can grow to very large sizes, making them physically incompatible with most non-commercial tanks. 

Spotted Gars can grow up to 3 feet in length, which means that when you factor in how much room they need to move around comfortably, you’re looking at a very large aquarium. 

Most experts would recommend something in the region of 500 or 600 gallons. Even though you may introduce a Spotted Gar into an aquarium before it reaches its adult size, you should still ensure that the tank will be large enough to accommodate it long-term. 

Because Spotted Gars are so often apex predators in aquatic environments, you will need to think very carefully before introducing any potential tank mates. 

If you choose to create an inter-species aquarium, you should ensure that any tank mates are roughly the same size as the Spotted Gar. The Spotted Gar will not typically be aggressive towards fish of a similar size. 

Therefore, larger catfish species, polypterus, and bichirs are often the best choices to accompany the Spotted Gar. 

Care should be taken to introduce different fish species at similar ages and at the same time. This will reduce the possibility of territorial behavior when a new species is introduced.

Spotted Gars thrive in water temperatures between 53.6 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH that comfortably sits between 6.5 and 8. 

The water hardness should be kept between 9 and 19. 

However, it is worth noting that Spotted Gars, like other Gar species, are very tolerant of various water conditions. 

This doesn’t mean you should disregard the information outlined above, but it means you don’t have to panic if, for example, the oxygen level in your Gar’s tank drops. Gars have resilient and highly functional swim bladders, so they’ll be able to tolerate this until you can rectify the situation. 

As an aquatic predator, the Spotted Gar requires a diet of (ideally fresh) fish and other water-dwelling animals to survive and thrive. 

When your Spotted Gar is still a juvenile, it’s best to feed it a diet of small fish such as minnows. As they grow into adulthood, Spotted Gars can start to eat larger fish – especially shad.