noob aquariumist

[JoeMikeInc]

i am looking for a minimal size aquarium setup for an aggressive fish. i'm not looking for too many fish at all, perhaps a preditory fish. the smaller the tank size the better, as my place isn't that large(me and the fish could have something in common) also, a wallet friendly setup would'nt hurt!

[Ketso]

Oscars, piranha, Red Terror and Jaguar Cichlid are but just a few. From what I have read about aggressive fish, they tend to need a large tank. I know a fella that lives near me that has 2 Oscars in a 55g. They're huge (the fish that is) and dont look too pleased with the tank size.

Most of them get pretty good size as well. And, I dont think, the 1" per gallon rule applies either.

HOW wallet friendly are you talking? I have a 55g set up without any fish yet that has cost nearly $500 so far. This includes the tank, stand, parts for the DIY light hood, canister filter, testing supplies, tubing, light timers, etc. Figure in another $100 for fish, for me anyway, and I'm up to nearly $600.

Good luck with your search for a tank. I'm sure there will be others with better more helpful opinions than mine.

[TKOS]

The smallest, meanist fish I know is the paradise fish. Tough little guy, gets to be close to 3 inches or so in size (maybe a bit bigger). A 10 gallon setup would work. He will bite you, spend the day pacing the front of the tank, jump all the good things.

But as for larger fish that are aggressive like cichlids, well you will definately need a larger setup. Predator fish can get large, but also create a lot of waste, so to keep them healthy you often have to put a lot of work into the setup.

[primetime3wise]

IF* you buy my 30g long, go for my 3" sanchezi (piranha) too :)

[Kyohti]

45-gallon long and a species of bichir. They are Jurassic fishes with arm-like pectoral fins and primitive lungs. They can literally survive out of water, pulling themselves along on their arm fins or wagging their tail to move forward!!

They are very hardy and adaptable, thriving in various water temps and conditions, which makes them an easy beginner's predator. They have very thick and uniquely shaped scales, so it makes them pretty impervious to common tropical diseases and parasites. They also eat anything from live fish, bugs, and live shrimp to tidbits of thawed steamed cocktail shrimp and raw fish/beef heart to bottom feeder pellets, cichlid pellets, and catfish bait... so they're easy to find food for!!

I love mine. I bought her when she was only 3 inches or so. I've had her almost a year now and she's twice that size. They get to be something like 12-16 inches in captivity and they're just plain neat to look at and have amazing personalities. They do fine kept as a single fish, or you can keep them with others as long as those fish aren't small enough to fit in the Bichir's mouth... but don't ever let it get hungry!! You'll have fish with bites out of them!!!

So there you go. It's a fantastic conversation fish, considering it's unique look. It's very personable, very adaptable, very hardy, fairly resistent to parasites and such, and it's easy to feed and maintain. The only drawback is the amount of space they need... but a 40 gallon would work for at least a couple of years before you'd need to upgrade.

Here's some images of different Bichirs. Enjoy!!

Nifty Photos and A Video Clip: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/bichir_delhezi_w180.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/wild/polypterus.htm&h=140&w=180&sz=5&hl=en&sig2=Qis-Mo76sXuKK5Q1D5ZeKQ&start=10&tbnid=VDK3XJk7JR9cSM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=101&ei=VPEGRuS3LIKQjgH9lPG_Cw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbichir%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3D en%26sa%3DG

Keeping Bichirs:http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/keeping_polypterus.htm

Once you figure out a type you like and that'd suit your space requirements, google it and you'll find tons of pictures and information.

[hendrixpujols11]

you get just get a betta in like a 5 gallon.