Huejeta Gar

Ctenolucius hujeta

Huejeta Gar

Ctenolucius hujeta
Other Common Names
Silver gar, rocket gar, slant-nosed gar, and freshwater barracuda
Other Common Names
Silver gar, rocket gar, slant-nosed gar, and freshwater barracuda

At the Aquarium

Amazon Basin

Appearance

Huejeta gars are streamline, arrow-like silver fish. They have a sharply pointed, tooth-filled snout with fleshy flaps hanging from their lower jaw like jowls. They reach up to 10 inches when fully grown.

Habitat

Rivers, streams, floodplains, lakes, and wetlands

Diet

Huejeta gars are obligate carnivores, feeding mostly on smaller fishes and insects.

Life History

They spend most of their time hunting by floating motionless near the surface, hiding in foliage in order to stalk prey. Fish are struck at lightning-quick, and insects will get jumped at from within the water.
Huejeta gars are spawners, with fry swimming within 2 – 3 days after hatching. They are territorial with those fish they don’t see as prey or predator.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Huejeta gar are common within the pet trade.
Colombia and Venezuela
This animal is not found on the Oregon Coast. It can be found at the Oregon Coast Aquarium as part of our temporary exhibit Amazon Basin: Adventure for the Senses.
Huejeta gar are not actually related to other gar, but are a type of characin.