I want a gentile giant, recommendations?

cdawson, I'm not doubting you on your sizes, I know my Balas will be large but the full grown size on the Lima is a lot bigger than anywhere else I've ever read.

I usually see 7-10" max for the Lima.

And the pleco is always hiding and under his driftwood, so he's not really taking up any swimming room.

This is why I just want one, decent sized fish.

I've kept SA cichlids, africans, and a amazon tank. I'm done with really big fish that get too big.

Keep the replies comming.
 
I'd like to add more tank water to that notion of discus for your tank, sorry. I don't think they will like their other tankmates. The angels would be okay, but the balas and the other larger catfish would be too much. Discus are extremely shy. And then there is the water parameters, pH around 6.5 and a slightly higher temperature around 80 degrees. This might throw off the other fish. So, I'm not sure what that leaves, but we don't want them eaten or picking on the angels. Festivums are great fish and would do great with the angels, if you can find them large enough. I can't think of any other "show" fish that doesn't get huge and that will get along with the others.
 
You had mentioned an Oscar. I think if you added a juvenile in the two inch category and it grew up with all of the fish bigger than it it would never bother anybody. I think an oscar would be fine, you might need more filtration though. Oscars are not outwardly aggressive, they are just hungry, this gives them a bad rap because they will eat smaller fish, but because of the angels body shape it will never be attacked and your other fish are two large/fast for the oscar to bother itself with. Just my two cents.
 
Originally posted by bigpoppax2
cdawson, I'm not doubting you on your sizes, I know my Balas will be large but the full grown size on the Lima is a lot bigger than anywhere else I've ever read.

I usually see 7-10" max for the Lima.
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Dawson is correct on the size of the Lima. I had one that grew to 12" in a 90. Gave it to a friend who specializes in true giant fish, and he put it in an 800g, where it got to have too big of an appetite and was moved to one of his XXXL tanks. Anyway, the fish has grown at least another 2-3" since he got it, and is right around the size that Dawson mentioned.
 
Thanks to all that have replied, I went out last night and got a small tiger ocsar. He'll need to grow out a bit in my 30 before I introduce him into my 120. He's tiny, about 1.5" if that long.

What's the opinion on HITH with oscars, I've heard water quality, I've also heard vitamin deficiencies were the thought cause?

I'd say there are a lot of opinions on said topic, is there anyone who has read something concrete?
 
Do a google on hole in the head. It appears there are two kinds, one is indeed linked to high nitrates and vitamin deficiency and the other is an infection by a protozoan from what I can tell. I have also read that it is caused by high nitrates and low vitamins and then ther protozoans take advantage of the weakened tissue and move in.

I think you will be happy with your choice! Good Luck!

Don't grow him to big before you introduce him or he might chase other fish around. IMHO a month would be a good grow time.
 
Agreed on the poo. Espically when he gets a good handfull of alge tabs.

I forgot to mention my clown knife, but he's only about 6-7" right now and from what I've seen he's a real slow grower. LFS has one that's about 14" but he's also 12 years old.

That's my reason for a little reluctancy in throwing the oscar in the 120 right away. I'd say a month of growth time would be about right.
 
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