Large Fish?

[lukestanislaus]

Hi I recently purchased my 2nd tank (I already have a 23g small community tank) and I was looking to use to go have on bigger fish (up to 10" o so or a few larger fish (6" maybe) with maybe some small tankmates

Thing is I know I will probably have to give them away to the local fish shop after 2 years or so, do lfs take large fish like oscars or other fish of size?

I know an Oscar is an option, I read my tank is probably big enough for it (confirmation?) and maybe have a bristlenose plec in there as well

I was thinking about other options, like perhaps convict cichlids? But I can only keep one pair this way (I heard they are just too aggresive for tankamtes)

Severum? Maybe get 2 as I hear 2 is better than 1, is my tank big enough for 2 or even 3 of these? I read they grow to ~20cm

Any other large/semi large fish options for my tank? I am VERY open to suggestions so if you have a weird suggestion dont hesitate

KEEP IN MIND MY TANK SIZE:

~65 gallons / ~250L

4ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft
120cm x 45cm x 45cm

FILTER: Jebo 819 1200L/hr cannister filter (I am willing to upgrade)

 

[Gatorbait]

The main thing for cichlids is the width. Height doesn't matter so much unless it's Angels or Discus.

Are you willing to have 1 main show fish and nothing else if it's too mean?

Or would you rather have something not aggressive like an Oscar that will allow tankmates in most cases?

You can get most any cichlid other than a Dovii or Umbee but the more aggressive ones usually won't allow anything with it.

Do you want something that aggressive or just mildly aggressive?

Any interest in piranhas?

Let me know how aggressive you want to go and I can help more.

 

[lukestanislaus]

I'm open to all suggestions, I really feel like I have a blank canvas here

I wouldnt mind 1 show fish, however I would prefer something that can tolerate a least some tankmakets for a bit of variety. Although tankamtes are not a must
I am attracted to oscars because of the wealth of information out there and i know I can buy 2-3inch ones for like $10, but I'd be willing to hear other suggestions
I also considered a mbuna community or a pair or even 1 large cichlid if they can be kept alone

However I'd love to hear your suggestions for any fish I don't know anythimng about priahnas, how many would I keep?
I'm willing to have only 1 fish (If I really liked the look of it) if that what it takes so there's no limit on aggression I guess, as long as I can keep it in my tank. It would depend on how much I like the fish

 

[Gatorbait]

Oscars are great fish. If that's what you'd like you would be making a good choice. They have more personality than any other fish.

A piranha would be pretty expensive so that would most likely be out.

Try doing a search for Flowerhorn, motaguense, Red Devil, managuense.

A red devil is an awesome fish also and has tons of personality. It's up in the air if you can put anything in with it as some get psycho when they hit 6". If you buy one in a lfs, you'll get a RDxMidas mix but they are still wonderful fish.

Others will have options for you also but figured I'd give you something to work with for now.

 

[lukestanislaus]

wow some of those look really nice, especially the managuense

you sure those fih are suitable for my sized tank? i see some of them grow very large, over a foot in length

 

[QuotheRaven]

A Managuese needs at least a 80 gallon tank for itself... and thats minimum

 

[fuzz16]

what size tank is your new one?

and if its under 55g stay away from oscars and look at something smaller. firemouths possibly

 

[lukestanislaus]

It's ~65 gallons

4ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft
120cm x 45cm x 45cm

 

[dwarfgourami]

I would be very wary of getting a fish that you will have to return in two years time, as you mentioned. Even if the lfs promise now that they will take it, that is absolutely no guarantee that they will have the tank space in two years time. Something similar happened to me, one shop promised they'd take my fry, 6 months later they'd decided they probably wouldn't be able to sell them.
Medium-sized cichlids and/or medium-sized plecs seems a good way to go- then you know you can enjoy them throughout their lives.

 

[Gatorbait]

wow some of those look really nice, especially the managuense

you sure those fih are suitable for my sized tank? i see some of them grow very large, over a foot in length

For some reason I thought you had a 75g tank. I don't know why and you even posted your tank size in your first post. I guess I assumed with you wanting an Oscar that I could go with fish that size.

You wouldn't be able to get any of them, including the Oscar as all those fish need a 75g minimum when full grown.

I apologize for missing that part.

 

[roro]

HEY PIRANHA ARE A GOOD OPTION THEY ARE PRETTY HARDY AND ENTERTAINING YOU COULD HAVE A FEW I HAVE 6 IN ONE TANK AND A PLECO BUT MAKE SURE YOU GET THEM SMALL AND A PLECO SO THEY LEARN NOT TO ATTACK PLEC AND PLEC CLEANS AS PIRANHA ARE MESSY

 

[Gatorbait]

HEY PIRANHA ARE A GOOD OPTION THEY ARE PRETTY HARDY AND ENTERTAINING YOU COULD HAVE A FEW I HAVE 6 IN ONE TANK AND A PLECO BUT MAKE SURE YOU GET THEM SMALL AND A PLECO SO THEY LEARN NOT TO ATTACK PLEC AND PLEC CLEANS AS PIRANHA ARE MESSY

That may just be a temporary thing tho.

If you wanted to spend some money you could get a sanchezi and definitely keep it in a 65g for life.

 

[Tessla]

I wouldn't keep an oscar in anything less than 75 gallons, and then I'd only keep a single oscar unless it was a much larger tank.

There are other cichlid options, check out the profiles on the African Cichlids and New World Cichlids. Tanks sizes and setup information for a bunch of different fish.

One other to think of is the blood parrot cichlid, I'm pretty sure you could keep a couple of these in a tank of your size. They're an odd looking hybrid fish and fairly common, just keep an eye out for dyed and tattooed specimens. I used to have a couple in an 80 gallon, they're quite entertaining.

If you want a pleco, keep in mind that your tank is still small for a sailfin or common. Planet Catfish has a fantastic index of smaller plecos and other catfish if you're interested in one of those. I have a tendency to stock my tanks around my bottom feeders, though most wouldn't consider them "show" fish.

 

[Whiplash4ever]

For what it's worth, I'd go Oscars over Piranha any day. Piranha are skittish and pretty boring as far as fish go. Oscars will actually learn to recognize you as you approach their home. I'd also stay away from any and all Pleco's because they are just one dirty nasty fish. Every one I ever had was a constant poop machine. I forces you to do gravel cleanings and water changes much more often to keep the Nitrate levels down. Red Devils are pretty cool, but they will force you to keep them as the only fish in the tank more often than not. Oscars can at least tolerate other fish if they're fast enough (Silver Dollars) or brought up together and have grow to be close to the same size. I just bought a 210 gallon tank and I think I'm going to try an Oscar or tow coupled with an Electric Blue Jack Dempsey and a few Silver dollars. Maybe a cat too, if I can find one that will grow big, but not huge.

Keep in mind, Oscars need about 50 gallons of water each, so, I wouldn't get more than one. The inch of fish per gallon of water rule doesn't really apply for Oscars because, lets face it, 12 one inch fish will not create the same mass as 1 twelve inch Oscar, and that's what you'll have before you know it. They grow particularly fast (about an inch a month s youngsters)

 

[Gatorbait]

I wouldn't keep an oscar in anything less than 75 gallons, and then I'd only keep a single oscar unless it was a much larger tank.

There are other cichlid options, check out the profiles on the African Cichlids and New World Cichlids. Tanks sizes and setup information for a bunch of different fish.

One other to think of is the blood parrot cichlid, I'm pretty sure you could keep a couple of these in a tank of your size. They're an odd looking hybrid fish and fairly common, just keep an eye out for dyed and tattooed specimens. I used to have a couple in an 80 gallon, they're quite entertaining.

If you want a pleco, keep in mind that your tank is still small for a sailfin or common. Planet Catfish has a fantastic index of smaller plecos and other catfish if you're interested in one of those. I have a tendency to stock my tanks around my bottom feeders, though most wouldn't consider them "show" fish.

For what it's worth, I'd go Oscars or Piranha any day. Piranha are skittish and pretty boring as far as fish go. Oscars will actually learn to recognize you as you approach their home. I'd also stay away from any and all Pleco's because they are just one dirty nasty fish. Everyone I ever had was a constant poop machine. I forces you to do gravel cleanings and water changes much more often to keep the Nitrate levels down. Red Devils are pretty cool, but they will force you to keep them as the only fish in the tank more often than not. Oscars can at least tolerate other fish if they're fast enough (silver Dollars) or brought up together and have grown to be close to the same size. I just bought a 210 gallon tank and I think I'm going to try an Oscar or tow coupled with an Electric Blue Jack Dempsey and a few Silver dollars. Maybe a cat too, if I can find one that will grow big, but not huge.

He edited his original post and says he only has a 60g which isn't big enough for an Oscar. Oscars definitely have a great personality though.

You also shouldn't generalize piranhas based upon one species of them.