I have a tank that is 31x15x19 in which I currently have 2 platties, 2 leapord cories, 1 bristlenose plec and 3 rainbow fish as well as a red tailed black shark. Someone on another board advised me that this tank size isn't really big enought for the RTBS once he reaches full size, at the moment he's only 3" long. I just want to double check this, and how big does he have to be before I consider moving him on. When I first researched this the site I used recommended nothing smaller than 25gal and mine is about 29gals so I thought it would be OK. Also whats the min sized tank you need for keeping 1 angel fish.
RTBS Too big for my tank
- Thread starter roady
- Start date
Your RTBS is going to get about 6 inches long and they got that torpedo shape which means they like to swim around a lot. I would recommed at least a 55 gal long 48"x13"x21" which should provide more room for them. Those rainbow like to swim to and would like a longer tank. My son has two angels in a 20 gal tall that have been doing fine for 3 years now,,,one pleco and a neon tetra (last survivor of 8) are the other occupants. I don't think neons live long.
I've had my rainbow shark (close relative to the RTBS) for 4 years now in my 29 gallon... he's about 6.5" long and is happy as a pig in you-know-what in my tank. He does love to swim, and darts around the tank really fast (usually when there's food out there) and if I didn't have a lid on my tank I bet he'd try to jump... He's got tons of open space to swim, and takes full advantage of every bit of it.
Your RTBS will not be stunted or anything in a 29 gallon tank, and he will have ample room to swim as he grows. When we got ours he was tiny, like 2" or so. I think mine plenty of room and even if he grows another 2" or so (which I don't think he will as I think 7" is max), he'll be cool.
Would he like to have more room, like in a 55 gallon tank? Sure! Would I like to have a 55 gallon tank? YES! Do I have the space/money for it? Not right now. My rainbow (and your RTBS) will be just fine in the 29's. Of course, if we hit the lottery or get bigger places, then we should upgrade and put them into a 55+ tank!
~Tara
Your RTBS will not be stunted or anything in a 29 gallon tank, and he will have ample room to swim as he grows. When we got ours he was tiny, like 2" or so. I think mine plenty of room and even if he grows another 2" or so (which I don't think he will as I think 7" is max), he'll be cool.
Would he like to have more room, like in a 55 gallon tank? Sure! Would I like to have a 55 gallon tank? YES! Do I have the space/money for it? Not right now. My rainbow (and your RTBS) will be just fine in the 29's. Of course, if we hit the lottery or get bigger places, then we should upgrade and put them into a 55+ tank!
~Tara
Ideally you want something longer than higher. The 29 goes up. If you could afford it getting a 33 gallon would be nice. It is a much longer tank but you could dtill use the same old filters etc... that you currently have.
From what I have seen the RTBS can start to get quite broad bodied once they grow older, so while it will probably be fine in your 29 gallon something bigger would be better.
From what I have seen the RTBS can start to get quite broad bodied once they grow older, so while it will probably be fine in your 29 gallon something bigger would be better.
Thanks for the replies, for the mo I'll keep him around and maybe within the next year or so I might upgrade to a slightly bigger tank to save giving him up plus getting a few more fish. 