Are these fish compatible?

[RumpThumper33]

2 Peacock Bass

1 Asian Red Tailed Catfish

1 Ropefish


Are they compatible? Oh yeah, I have a 55 gallon tank.

[valerie]

you need a way bigger tank. Peacock bass and red tailed cats get very very big and IMHO should not be kept in a tank at all.You picked some huge species for a tank the size of a 55gal. Tell us what kind of fish you like and we can help you pick new ones that work with your setup.Sorry for the bad news

Here are some links to the fish you wanted to choose. Remember research reasearch research.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/ilibrary/bagridae/hemibagr/19_f.htm
http://www.peacockbassonline.com/
http://www.aquariacentral.com/fishinfo/fresh/peacockb.htm
http://www.aquariacentral.com/fishinfo/fresh/snake.htm

[RumpThumper33]

i like aggresive catfish that will eat live fish. I love watching them eat those goldfish. Any suggestions?

[pinballqueen]

In a 55 gallon, you won't have much choice for predatory fish of any kind. Catfish that are big enough to eat other fish (or have the inclination to), get WAY too big for a tank that size. Channel cats, shark catfish, etc. get anywhere from 1-10 FEET in length (depending on breed and circumstance...I've caught channels in my local lake that were 5 feet before....yep, the same ones that are 3" at the lfs...).

You can have aggressive fish without necessarily having fish-eaters. I got on a "super-mean" kick there for a couple of years, and all I wound up with was an empty wallet an dead fish, since I couldn't provide adequate tank space to keep anything that was truly predatory. I have a 55 as well, btw.

I still like the aggressives, I have just decided to wait until I can give them the kind of home they deserve, at least 200 gallons of it.

You might give a try to a NA native, like a bluegill (only one or two for 55 gallons, though). They're meaner than snot and will happily eat anything that will fit in their mouth.... Small perch species like that are really pretty and have an attitude to match...

Also, I'm not a big fan of ropefish...they like to escape. Plus, anything predatory with a mouth larger than a quarter would make a quick meal out of one....they do resemble a worm, after all...
One more quick note: I wouldn't feed exclusively feeders to anything unless that's all they will take. If you do, only feed them weekly, because the ammonia will shoot up like you wouldn't believe and be uncontrollable.... Try to get the fish accustomed to pellets, as well, or you'll not have your fish for very long....

[RumpThumper33]

Lets say I wanted to spend 300 bucks, not including the price for fish. How big of a tank could I get? (I need to buy all the stuff for it, like a filter, gravel, ect.)

[Sumpin'fishy]

For $300 you could get a 55 or MAYBE get away with a 75 gal and still get some cheap gear. 75's around here are about $200 (actually a little less), but this is without the glass tops. I'd go with a 55 and get good quality equipment. It adds up quickly!

[Rare Cichlids]

Pinballqueen, I think you might be getting your catfish species confused. A 5' channel cat would smash the world record of 58 lbs.. And actually, a 5' Flathead or Blue would most likely be eligible for a state record at least. Preditory fish come in all shapes and sizes. Just because fish "A" can't eat fish "
B" (which is a 5" Gold Fish), doesn't mean its not a preditor. Chaca chaca will reach about 7-8" and are extremely criptic hunters.

[JamisonBWolsh]

No way.. I am sure you can get a 150 gallon- 200 gallon tank in the classifieds. A LFS sells a 60 gallon including stand and light for $100.00 (brand new)

[Rare Cichlids]

Oh, and if your going to get another tank, don't buy a new one if your pressed for cash. For $300 your could get a complete 125g if your real lucky. Atleast a 90g. But you'll have to check classified adds everywhere. I got a used 55g with everything for $100 once and a 125g for $400, and it came with EVERYTHING.

[Rare Cichlids]

If you find a 200g for $300 it probably won't even have the stand :)

[RumpThumper33]

yeah, i dont care if there is a stand or not

[pinballqueen]

Originally posted by Rare Cichlids
Pinballqueen, I think you might be getting your catfish species confused. A 5' channel cat would smash the world record of 58 lbs.. And actually, a 5' Flathead or Blue would most likely be eligible for a state record at least. Preditory fish come in all shapes and sizes. Just because fish "A" can't eat fish "
B" (which is a 5" Gold Fish), doesn't mean its not a preditor. Chaca chaca will reach about 7-8" and are extremely criptic hunters.


It may have been a blue, but blues are not native to the lake I caught this one from.... I released it, and I don't have a pic for I.D. purposes, or I'd look to see for sure which breed it was...I just remember it was nearly as tall as I was (at nearly 6' myself) and had to weigh at least 45-50 pounds (which would make me think channel, since blues are heftier and wider). I could be mistaken about the breed, though. It was nighttime, after all....

When I said that his predatory options were limited, I was going on the fact that what we generally feed our predatory pets is feeder goldfish, and there's only so many pet species that are both large enough to eat them, and small enough for the tank he has....

[Rare Cichlids]

It was 5'+ and only weighed 45-50 lbs? Must of been a skinny SOB. Blues really aren't that different from channels in body structure. This Blue is only 4'7" but weighed 104 lbs.

http://www.clubcatfish.com/DO-NOT-STEAL/102.jpg

This fish is the Ky state record, and was also released.

If it was indeed a Channel, it surely would have been a record.

If you don't care about the stand (have it on a cinder block stand), then you can probably get a pretty big tank. And it will be muich easier to find a good deal on just the tank, instead of stand and tank. If you can get a tank of atleast 125g, you can house stocky fish up to 12" or so. If you can get a tank of 180g then you could probably house a few 16-18" catfish comfortably.

[Frank]

If one is in search of catfish compatible for a 55gal tank, I'd suggest trying to get one's hands on a native bullhead catfish. They rarely grow beyond 12-14" in the wild, probably somewhat less in smaller creeks and ponds. They are hardy and have extremely ravenous appetites, though I'm not sure as to how agressively they'd pursue smaller feeder goldfish. I don't think that you'd ever have to get rid of it because of size, though you'll probably have to catch one from the wild for your tank. Young bullheads are very easy to spot and catch in the early summer, when they swim in a tight school and are guarded by their parents.

As for channel cats, I guess it comes down to whether or not you're willing to buy and keep a fish that you may one day have to get rid of once it outgrows your tank. I once kept a small gar in a fifteen gallon tank for a couple of months before I took it back to the dealer for a trade. Neither the fish nor I were any worse for the experience, and in my experience with channel cats, one should be able to keep you company for some time before it needs a new home. At the prices for which they sell, I cannot see the proposition as being cost prohibitive. As a coldwater fish, channel cats would be able to survive in an outdoor pond or the wild, though most jurisdictions have laws against releasing aquarium fish into native waters. Perhaps release into an enclosed farm pond would be both legal and humane where you live, but that would be up to you to determine

I hope that this is of some help,

Frank

PS. As an avid fisherman, I find it particularly interesting to observe aquarium fish that can be caught in the wild. This may make owning species like channel cats of particular interest to those who fish. :)

[fishlips]

I had 3 small brown bull heads around 5'' and they ate every thing in the tank. I think they were stunted due to severe over crowding in a very small wild pond. They were cool but very shy to the light. I'd put feeders in the tank in the afternoon and by mourning most would be gone. I tried to get them on shrimp pellets but returned them to the tiny pond.

[u-m_fan]

How about a jack dempsey, they will fit in a 55 gal if you only have 1. they will eat goldfish

[vfrex]

Asian redtails would probably kill the peacock bass, especially in a tank as small as a 55 gallon.

[Sumpin'fishy]

Yea, with my post I didn't even think about classifieds. I just meant that's the cost of a NEW tank. He also asked about getting EVERYTHING except fish for 300. I think (not considering classifieds) 200 dollars is the most you want to spend, considering you have to buy everything else to run the tank too. I like to go with good quality stuff, not the most expensive, but not cheap either! I'd rather pay a couple bucks more for peace of mind and a longer average lifespan of equipment. I would save at least 100 dollars for equipment is what I'm saying.

You might be able to find a good "package deal" in the newspaper classifieds though! Check it out.