Rocket Tail Gar fish

[jayc]

Saw an unusually rare fish at my LFS on Sunday.

A "Rocket Tail Gar fish". 

Ctenolucius Hujeta, aka hujeta gars, pike characins, spotted Cachorros, South American freshwater needlefish, freshwater barracudas, gar characins, slant-nosed gars, and silver gars

 

They earn their name of Rocket when you see them feed or when spooked.

They are predators that can open that mouth really wide and swallow relatively large prey compared to it's body size.

 

Although they are referred to as "gar", they are actually Characin.

Characin have a tiny adipose fin right behind the dorsal fin.  They also have the characin teeth.

Ctenolucius Hujeta originate from bottom of Central America - top of South America. 

[NoGi]

On ‎29‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 9:03 AM, jayc said:

They are predators that can open that mouth really wide and swallow relatively large prey compared to it's body size.

So no good for a shrimp tank then

[jayc]

2 hours ago, NoGi said:

So no good for a shrimp tank then

LOL !

 

That's a  NO !!

But then again, these guys like eating fish, so who knows. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[NoGi]

Wow, so even the natives would be at risk