LFS huge fish
- Thread starter EOD
- Start date
I have somewhat problematic big fish and I just deal with it...I can't imagine these people who routinely get big fish, then trade them in when they become a problem because they like to watch them grow.
I've got black moors which will eventually get too big for their 55, a Synodontis eupterus who I think has outgrown his 55, but because the literature made it seem like this was ok, I put them in these places. A 55 for fancy goldfish seems incredibly roomy considering most people say they are fine in a 29. And most people say the big Synos need tanks of 40 gallons and up. I would never give them to the one mom and pop fish store (the rest in my town are chains) because I know they will just go in the "big fish" tank, which is stocked with everything but the kitchen sink - similar to the one pictured.
IMO, there is a problem with the literature as much as there is a problem with the aquarists and the local fish/pet stores. You can do your research, and still do it wrong. Many articles will say tinfoils are fine in 100 gallons, balas are fine in a 75, oscars are fine in 55 gallons....these are all too conservative.
When places like loaches.com "keep it real" and say that clown loaches need a tank that is hundreds of gallons, or an expert goldfish keeper says that no goldfish should have a tank smaller than 4 feet, people tend to think it's rubbish, because it goes against the grain.
I truly believe that aquarium magazines (these are the worst sometimes!) and sometimes even books "sell out" so to speak by using minimum tank sizes to make it more palatable for their readership. Minimum tank sizes are just that - like saying it's ok for a German shepherd to have a roomy patio, when common sense tells you they need a yard to live outside!
I've got black moors which will eventually get too big for their 55, a Synodontis eupterus who I think has outgrown his 55, but because the literature made it seem like this was ok, I put them in these places. A 55 for fancy goldfish seems incredibly roomy considering most people say they are fine in a 29. And most people say the big Synos need tanks of 40 gallons and up. I would never give them to the one mom and pop fish store (the rest in my town are chains) because I know they will just go in the "big fish" tank, which is stocked with everything but the kitchen sink - similar to the one pictured.
IMO, there is a problem with the literature as much as there is a problem with the aquarists and the local fish/pet stores. You can do your research, and still do it wrong. Many articles will say tinfoils are fine in 100 gallons, balas are fine in a 75, oscars are fine in 55 gallons....these are all too conservative.
When places like loaches.com "keep it real" and say that clown loaches need a tank that is hundreds of gallons, or an expert goldfish keeper says that no goldfish should have a tank smaller than 4 feet, people tend to think it's rubbish, because it goes against the grain.
I truly believe that aquarium magazines (these are the worst sometimes!) and sometimes even books "sell out" so to speak by using minimum tank sizes to make it more palatable for their readership. Minimum tank sizes are just that - like saying it's ok for a German shepherd to have a roomy patio, when common sense tells you they need a yard to live outside!
My LFS gets a lot of fish brought in when they get too big. It's nice in a way to see how big these fish really get. Seeing a full grown oscar in person made me realize why they can't live in a 55 gallon.
I've even been surprised by full grown mbuna. Mine still have some growing to do but seeing full sized gives me an idea how my tank will look down the road.
I've even been surprised by full grown mbuna. Mine still have some growing to do but seeing full sized gives me an idea how my tank will look down the road.
The first time I saw a huge bala shark was at the zoo's aquarium...I was so surprised at how big they get!
I saw two massive red tail cat fish at the lfs. The guy at the store said they are 10 years old. They were big! even for the pond they had! lol!
I was planning on getting loaches for my tank lol! after reading this I was like "wtf?"
I was planning on getting loaches for my tank lol! after reading this I was like "wtf?"
On the flip side I have encountered an employee in a big box store who cared a little too much about the fish. I was trying to buy 10 neon's to put in my 29G, even after explaining to them that the tank was cycled, that I have multiple tanks, that the tank has a filter rated for a much larger tank, that the only other fish are 2 BN pleco's etc they still refused to sell me the neons that I wanted.
I could understand where the employee was coming from, and was happy to encounter someone who knew what they were talking about and cared, but it was incredibly frustrating being told I could not buy 10 neon's.
A 29 is not too small for 10 neons, with or without the BN.
As far as 2foot long Balas go, they would need to be close to 100 years old to get to that length. They rarely get to 16" in an aquarium setting. Sounds like "a fish story" to me.
As far as 2foot long Balas go, they would need to be close to 100 years old to get to that length. They rarely get to 16" in an aquarium setting. Sounds like "a fish story" to me.
personally, i would of just bought the max they would have let me and returned a few days later. that really isnt much of a big deal at all, and definitely not worth starting a fight over. had they been trying to sell you some other fish that you didnt want or were selling unsuitable fish to another customer/giving bad advice, that's another story.
Well excuzzzeme, I don't tell fishy stories. If you like I can go take pictures of the 2 foot bala shark.
