Reproduction

Males sexually mature around 2 years of age, much sooner than the typical female around 6 years of age. Females however grow faster and larger than males(Klaassen & Morgan 1974). Females typically live well over 20 years old while males are only occasionally recorded living past 11 years old.  Head shape, width of snout, placement and size of fins are the only distinguishing characteristics between male and female gar. The male to female sex ratio can vary from 3:1 to 5:1 in any given area(Netsch & Witt 1962).
 

During times of spawning it is common to see several males chasing after 1 large female. Gar spawn seasonally, in the spring and in the summer. During these seasons there is a 6-7 day time frame from which they spawn(Kelley 2012). The average female gar produces 30,000 eggs, though this can fluctuate depending on the size of the female. The eggs the female lays are green and very toxic, only a handful of species can eat them without severe illness or death. After the female lays here eggs the adhesive coating on them sticks to the surrounding rocks or vegetation(Klaassen & Morgan 1974). Longnose gar do not care for their young. They leave the nursery area almost immediately after the eggs are laid.  The eggs will hatch within 5 to 9 days (McGrath 2012).
 

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