

These freshwater fish are bottom-feeding members of the sucker family Cut carp are frequently used as bait for alligator gar The flesh of gar is edible, but its eggs contain an ichthyotoxin, a type of protein toxin which is highly toxic to humans. “It’s very likely there are alligator gar out there that are over 100 years old,” David said. The world record for the largest alligator gar ever caught is 8 feet 5 inches and 327 pounds Researchers estimate that fish was 95 years old. What is the largest alligator gar ever caught? But they will outgrow it, and faster than you might think. Sure, you can keep a young gar in a 200 gallon tank, for a time. A fully size, tankbuster of an Alligator Gar would need a tank 40 feet long and 20 feet wide (about 10-12 thousand gallons). How big of a tank does an alligator gar need?įor a 3-4 foot gar, something around 500 or 600 gallons is about right. A 3-foot gar is typically about 2.5 years old a 4-foot gar about 5, and a 7-foot trophy catch might be 40 years old. In general, for every additional foot the fish grows, its age doubles. The toxicity of gar eggs serves as a defense mechanism against predators such as crustaceans. They can pose a passive danger, though: The fish’s eggs are poisonous to humans if ingested. These pale gray Alligator Gar reach lengths of up to 10 feet in the wild, and cost around $7,000, though some have sold for about three times that price.Īlthough they may look ferocious, alligator gars pose no threat to humans and there are no known attacks on people. How much is a melanistic alligator gar worth?

This is because the scales on the alligator gar are extremely tough, and you might have to use wire cutters, tin snips, and a hatchet to cut through the fish’s armor.

The short answer is that yes, you can definitely eat alligator gar, but they must be prepared carefully to ensure they are cleaned properly. However, there is no documentation of attacks on man by alligator gars The eggs are poisonous, causing illness if consumed by humans. Will a gar fish bite you?ĭue to its large size and sharp teeth, the alligator gar is capable of delivering a serious bite wound to fisherman or swimmers. Retail prices in supermarkets and specialty stores have ranged from $3.00 to $3.50/lb. Alligator gar are torpedo-shaped predators with toothy jaws and snouts that resemble those of alligators They can measure 10 feet and weigh nearly 300 pounds.
