How big of a tank do I need?

You're gonna hate me.... at least 200 gallons. 300 if you want to keep them for more than a few months... All of those guys are a little territorial.

However, for temporary housing, 125 would work, though they would be unhappy in that for any length of time. Those are some big fish.... where u gonna get them? I'd kind of like a single bass myself in a 55...

pinballqueen, a 55 is way to small for these fish. Even a 100 for one may be on the small side. These brutes can top out at 24 inches. RumpThumper33, I would suggest nothing less then 200 gallons either. If however you really want these fish to be happy you would need 300 gallons or more. You will be trading these fish in yearly if you give them proper care. Do you have someplace that will take that many of these monsters off your hands that frequently?

Sorry for saying this, but that sort of attitude is.. well.. kinda irresponsible. The way I see it, when keeping fish, you plan to keep the fish at its full size. Thinking "I'll just trade these fish in when they get big" just doesn't work. What if your LFS refuses to take them in? What if you can't find anyone to take your fish in? and don't say it doesn't happen... because it does. It has happened to a friend of mine. He has a 6 inch common pleco in his 20 gallon, and it hasn't stopped growing. He can't find anyone willing to take it in.
I have to applaude you for coming here to ask before running off to the fishstore to buy the fish, trust me, thats probably one of the best things you could have done .
My answer is to not bother with any of those fish. IMHO, those fish shouldn't even be sold to your everyday aquarist.. because most cannot provide a good enough setup for those fish.

HTH
-Richer

Here here Richer more or less my exact thoughts just you put it a lot more bluntly. If you can not afford the upkeep of these fish it is highly doubtful you could or would spend what they would need in food as well. Did you consider what all those fish may eat? Not flake food thats for sure.

Cheapest way

If you can't afford the large tank, these one other way to have your cake and eat it too.
Go buy a bag of fish food and use the LFS as a feeding farm. Everyday after work go feed the fish and change the water, but don't tell the owner of the LFS.

Re: Cheapest way

lols there u go... but seriously Richer nailed it on the head.

Originally posted by Ken91gsx
If you can't afford the large tank, these one other way to have your cake and eat it too.
Go buy a bag of fish food and use the LFS as a feeding farm. Everyday after work go feed the fish and change the water, but don't tell the owner of the LFS.

Click to expand...

Re: Cheapest way

Originally posted by Ken91gsx
If you can't afford the large tank, these one other way to have your cake and eat it too.
Go buy a bag of fish food and use the LFS as a feeding farm. Everyday after work go feed the fish and change the water, but don't tell the owner of the LFS.

Click to expand...

that was funny