In this blog, I’m going to talk about the golden gar also known as the Xanthic gar. This is a fish that is a very rare and beautiful fish.
Where are Golden Gar Found?
Out of the seven types of gar species, five of them are native to the United States.
These prehistoric fish are found in the northern parts of the United States all the way down to the southern parts of the United States in Texas and Mississippi and on over to the Southeastern parts of the U.S. in Georgia and Florida. You’ll often see quite a few reports of golden gar being found in the Georgia and Florida area.
[Learn about other prehistoric fish like the platinum arowana.]The Appearance of the Golden Gar
The golden gar has a long and sleek body as well as a long snout. Honestly, it’s a peculiar-looking fish. It can glide through the water effortlessly though if you have ever seen one live in the wild or in captivity.
It has a yellowish-orange color. And, the gold-yellow color is caused by a genetic condition that makes the fish produce an excessive amount of yellow-orange pigment. Again, this is an extremely rare fish, and finding them doesn’t happen often.
The ironic thing, though, is that online, you can find several pictures of people who have hunted and killed golden gar. These fish are beautiful and extremely rare and to kill the gar is senseless and uncalled for.
Temperament
Some gar like the alligator gar may look threatening to many people, but in general, this gar and others aren’t known to attack people. The only thing about the gar that can be a threat to humans is their eggs. Eating gar eggs can be toxic to humans, but that’s about it. So don’t go around eating gar eggs.
What do Golden Gar Eat?
Like a lot of gars, this particular type of gar eats small fish in the wild. They eat shad, sunfish, and tiny catfish. They’ve also been known to eat crayfish.
Recap
This prehistoric golden gar is an extremely rare and historic fish. It has a beautiful golden color that has been caused by a genetic condition. Gars are found in the Northern, Southern, and Southeastern parts of the United States, and are not harmful to people. Many aquarists and fish keepers admire the golden gar for its unique color.
Remember, if you see one of these fish, don’t kill it, appreciate it! These fish are beautiful and harmless. So, be nice to the golden gar.
