S.A. Mosaic Gar

Gars are living fossils in the most literal sense, virtually unchanged for tens of millions of years, and part of that staying power comes down to armor: instead of the thin, overlapping scales most fish wear, gars are plated in thick, diamond-shaped ganoid scales interlocked almost like chain mail. A highly vascularized swim bladder doubles as a lung too, letting it gulp air at the surface and tolerate water quality that would suffocate less equipped fish.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful, predatory to small fish · Max size: ~24"+ · Min tank: 180+ gal (adult) · Diet: Carnivore, live/frozen foods