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Encyclopedia / Oddballs & Predators / Alligator gar
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Photo by Alec Gosewehr, CC BY-SA · source · credits

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Alligator gar

Atractosteus spatula · Gar

Ambush predator.

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260 cmAdult size ✓
UnknownTemperature ?
UnknownpH ?
UnknownSmallest tank ?
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Tank mates
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This one is best kept on its own, or with its own kind.

Not recommended
  • Alligator gar eats animals up to about 60 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Alligator gar eats animals up to about 60 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Alligator gar eats animals up to about 60 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ?Unknown
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ?Aggressive
Swims at ?Top
Care level ?Hard
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ✓50–95 years
Size in shops 10–20 cm
Growth Very fast

Behavior

Ambush predator.

Not for home aquariums. This fish grows far too big for any home tank. It needs a pond-sized system of thousands of litres, so please don't buy one as a baby.

Good to know: Can exceed 2 metres. Banned or permit-only in several countries and US states.

Food

Fish, prawns.

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Male or female

No visible external differences are described; very large fish (over about 6 ft / 1.8 m) are mostly females, as males rarely grow that big.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Rarely bred in captivity ·

Spawns in spring and early summer (typically April-June) when big floods spread over the banks: groups of 5-20 adults move onto shallow, grassy flooded areas and scatter eggs over the vegetation. Not a home-aquarium project.

Pairing

Large adults.

Setup

Huge ponds.

What starts it

Spring flooding.

Eggs

Eggs hatch in about 48-72 hours. The eggs are highly toxic to many animals, including people, and should not be eaten or handled carelessly.

Raising the fry

Fry eat live food then fish.

Common mistakes
  • Space
  • Cannibalism
  • Escape
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouthern United States and northeastern Mexico
Rivers and lakesMississippi River basin and Gulf Coast rivers
HabitatLarge rivers, lakes and bayous
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
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The story of the alligator gar

One of North America's largest freshwater fish: over 2.5 m and about 150 kg on record, and can live for decades (up to 95 years reported). Breathes air as well as using gills.

Lacépède described the alligator gar in 1803. With its broad, toothy snout, it is one of North America's largest freshwater fish. Young fish are sometimes sold for aquariums, but adults need pond-sized spaces.

First described by Bernard G. de Lacépède in 1803.

  • It can grow to around 3 m.
  • Its eggs are toxic to humans.
  • It can breathe air with its swim bladder.

Sources

11 facts checked with sources