Alligator Gar

For those who have not seen an Alligator Gar would think that it was a real full size alligator! But no, it is actually a monster fish. A fish is considered a monster fish if it can reach up to at least 12 inches when fully grown.

This belongs to our friend who has a passion for rearing monster fishes, however the picture is quite blur due to the water being murky.

By now you all should know where the fish got its name from. Yes, it is because of it's mouth area resembling an alligator. They are either dark brown, gray or olive coloured and their body is covered with diamond shaped scales. Alligator gars can live up to 50 years and weigh up to 140kg with a length of 120 inches. Which is not surprising that they are known as the largest freshwater fish in North America. 

 

Alligator gars are carnivores, which explains their rows of sharp teeth. An interesting fact is that they are the only Gar species that has a row of very sharp teeth in their upper jaw. They prey on fish, but they have been known to prey on almost anything, including small turtles, ducks, geese, swans and even dead animal flesh. In the wild, they live in large lakes or small rivers as they prefer calm water. They are also great hunters as they blend in well with the murky waters, thus most of the time their prey do not even know they are present until it is too late.

 

For those who would like to rear this monster fish must ensure they have enough space in the tank to grow and be able to provide sufficient food for these carnivorous beasts.