Spotted gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
- Tank length
- 300 cmabout 10 ft (118 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 12–25 °C54–77 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 52 cm20 in
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
Long-lived ambush predator approaching a metre; any fish small enough to grab will be eaten, so plan tank length around the adult.Long-lived ambush predator approaching a metre; any fish small enough to grab will be eaten, so plan tank length around the adult.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
Spotted gar may eat Acei cichlidSpotted gar may eat Acei cichlid
- African butterfly cichlid
Spotted gar may eat African butterfly cichlidSpotted gar may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Spotted gar may eat African clawed frogSpotted gar may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Spotted gar may eat Agassiz's corySpotted gar may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Spotted gar may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishSpotted gar may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpSpotted gar may eat Amano shrimpSpotted gar may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Spotted gar may eat American flagfishSpotted gar may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Spotted gar may eat Angfa rainbowfishSpotted gar may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Spotted gar may eat Arfak rainbowfishSpotted gar may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailSpotted gar may eat Assassin snailSpotted gar may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Spotted gar may eat Banded gouramiSpotted gar may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Spotted gar may eat Bandit corySpotted gar may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 12–25 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Great Lakes and Mississippi basin to Gulf Coast, North America | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | top | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review); agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Months to adult size | 36 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 300 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |