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LA
Rocket gars prefer to prowl in packs -- typical characin behavior.

What's in a Name?   We order them as rocket gars, which they're not.  We've seen them referred to as hujeta gars, pike characins, spotted Cachorros, South American freshwater needlefish, freshwater barracudas, gar characins, slant-nosed gars, and silver gars.  They're not really gars, but the masses seem to call them gars.

LA
Many have a "freaky beak" from bonking their tank ends.

Definitely a Characin:   Note the tiny adipose fin right behind the dorsal fin.  They also have the characin teeth -- although they're very hard to see.

Beak Bonkers:   When startled, they earn their "rocket gar" name.  They start bouncing off the walls and bending their beaks.  Plastic plants at the ends of their tanks will cushion their bonks.

LA

LA

LA
Assuming an "S" posture prior to pouncing on prey.

Decided Predators:   Rocket gars eat fish -- surprisingly large fish for their size.  A three-inch rocket gar will snag (and swallow) a rosy red (fathead minnow) almost half his size.  When stalking, they go into a crouching "S" shape. then suddenly launch and latch onto their unlucky lunch.  Most often, when food gets poured into the water from above, the rocket gar just dashes out and grabs it before the prospective lunch knows which way is up.

LA
Kind of hard to catch the sudden pounce.

LA
Then he appears to shake his prey.  But really, the prey is shaking him, trying to get away.

LA
He'll worry it around till he gets it head first.

LA
Head first works best.

LA
Going on down.

LA
His lower job opens up to accommodate the load.

LA
Then his belly expands to accommodate the load.

LA
Sometimes the load's a bit much.

Large Load:   As mentioned earlier, a rocket gar will grab and engulf surprisingly large prey (compared to his size).  A gut load like this means he won't have to eat again for a while -- sometimes a couple days.

LA
Two's just pushing your luck.  Also, note the weird beak.

Big Eaters:   When fed smaller prey, their same gourmand tendencies still apply.  They prefer to eat first and ask questions later.  They will accept recently deceased fish, if you pour them into the water correctly.  They grab the dead fish before they even know it's dead.  They're unlikely to eat one that hits the bottom.

LA
Two days later he's rerady for another load.

LA
Not good mixers with cichlids.

Sort of Sissies:   Aggressive towards smaller prey, rocket gars hang back when cichlids arrive on the scene.  Cichlids bite.  Rocket gars swallow.  Rocket gars will not attempt to swallow "tall" fish such as angels.

LA

LA

Top Dwellers:   Rocket gars prefer to stay near the surface.  They'll go to the bottom when chasing prey, but you'll usually see trhem at the top.  Besides hanging together with their own kind, they also seem to hunt better when kept in groups.

LA
Likes a bit of salt.

LA
Likes a planted tank.

Habitat:   Rocket gars prefer clean, well filtered water.  Vegetation seems to add to their general gemutlikeit.  Most predators prefer plants to lurk behind or within.  Floating vegetation helps discourage likely leapers.  You can also discourage unwanted exits by lowering their water level or adding a cover.  And although not a brackish wqter fish, they do like a bit of salt in their water.  We use 1/4 cup per 10 gallons.

Last Words:   Rocket gars are not for everybody.  They're harder to keep than most fish.  But if you like a bit of a challenge, look into rocket gars.  LA

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Hujetas will grab a very large prey.

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Jaguar Spawning II
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Pond Info 
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