Black Spot Gar

Black Spot Gar (Spotted Gar)

Black Spot Gar are primitive, predatory fish known for their long snout, armored scales, and distinct spotted pattern across the body and fins. They are powerful, fast-growing fish that require very large aquariums and are best suited for experienced keepers.

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus oculatus

Common Name: Black Spot Gar, Spotted Gar

Care Level: Advanced

Temperament: Predatory

Size: 24–36+ inches

Lifespan: 10–20 years

Tank Size: 180 gallons minimum (much larger long-term)

Temperature: 68–82°F

pH: 6.5–8.0

Diet: Carnivore (live or frozen fish, shrimp, worms; can be trained to frozen foods)

Tank Setup: Large open swimming space with minimal sharp décor. Tight-fitting lid required—they are powerful jumpers. Dim lighting and subdued décor help reduce stress.

Compatibility:

Only with large, robust tank mates that cannot fit in their mouth. Smaller fish will be eaten. Avoid aggressive species that may nip or stress them.

Behavior:

Ambush predator that stays near the surface. Requires access to air (they gulp oxygen). Generally calm but will strike quickly at prey.

Breeding:

Rare in captivity. Typically occurs seasonally in large outdoor ponds or natural habitats.

Assortment includes a mix of colors and patterns; Exact colors and markings will vary; Stock photo used; fish received may differ.

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Domestic shipping only! Sorry, we cannot ship to anyone in Hawaii & Washington State.

We ship on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday via USPS Priority Mail. Once we get your order, we will ship it within 1 to 5 business days. For the safety of the animals, we do not ship aquatic life on Thursday and Friday. We do not want live aquatic animals sitting in USPS warehouse over the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Any orders placed before 12:00 PM on Tuesday will be shipped out that same week. orders placed after 12:00 PM on Tuesday will now be processed the following week

Male/Female: Will be picked at random (no custom orders)

Note: color may be slightly off from photo.

We placed a penny at the corner of the tank so you can have an idea of the size of the fish.

Guaranteed to arrive alive you have one hour of delivery to report any death. You must take a picture while the fish is dead in the bag before it’s opened.

Fish’s color might be off first 3 days due to shipping and stressed fish.

we do not refund shipping costs