Needlenose gar
Xenentodon cancila
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 3
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 7–7.5
- Adult size
- 30 cm12 in
- Lifespan
- 4–8 yrs
A skittish surface predator that eats small fish and injures itself on glass when startled; use a long, covered tank.A skittish surface predator that eats small fish and injures itself on glass when startled; use a long, covered tank.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Needlenose gar may eat African butterfly cichlidNeedlenose gar may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Needlenose gar may eat African clawed frogNeedlenose gar may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Needlenose gar may eat Agassiz's coryNeedlenose gar may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Needlenose gar may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishNeedlenose gar may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpNeedlenose gar may eat Amano shrimpNeedlenose gar may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Needlenose gar may eat American flagfishNeedlenose gar may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Needlenose gar may eat Angfa rainbowfishNeedlenose gar may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Needlenose gar may eat Arfak rainbowfishNeedlenose gar may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailNeedlenose gar may eat Assassin snailNeedlenose gar may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Needlenose gar may eat Banded gouramiNeedlenose gar may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Needlenose gar may eat Bandit coryNeedlenose gar may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 10–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | India, Bangladesh and mainland Southeast Asia | 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 | active | 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) | 4–8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |