Platinum Gar

The Platinum Gar is a breathtaking leucistic variant of the Alligator Gar family — a living fossil wrapped in a mantle of pure, metallic white-silver that makes it one of the most visually striking predatory fish available to the serious aquarist. Gar species have remained virtually unchanged for over 100 million years, and the Platinum morph adds a layer of genetic rarity to an already extraordinary lineage. This captive-bred specimen combines the ancient, armored elegance of the gar form with a coloration that would not look out of place in a science fiction film.

The Platinum Gar is a large, powerful fish. Specimens in spacious enclosures can reach seventy-one inches, though growth rate in captivity is highly dependent on tank size and feeding regimen. A minimum 400-gallon aquarium is required — and "minimum" is doing a great deal of work in that sentence. For a fish of this potential size, we strongly recommend custom-built systems of 1000 gallons or larger for long-term housing. The tank must be structurally reinforced; a seventy-inch armored predator can generate significant force during feeding strikes.

Temperature tolerance is remarkably broad for a fish of this value: 61 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Gar are extraordinarily hardy once established, tolerating water conditions that would stress most tropical species. Their ganoid scales — thick, diamond-shaped, and composed of an enamel-like substance called ganoine — provide armor-like protection against physical damage.

Diet consists of live and frozen fish, shrimp, and large sinking pellets. Gar are ambush predators that strike with explosive speed from a stationary position. Feed two to three times weekly for adults; overfeeding leads to obesity and liver problems.

The Fish Collection ships via dedicated climate-controlled courier with our absolute live arrival guarantee.