what size tank to get
- Thread starter proycraft
- Start date
i just need some thoughs and i got smart asses and know it alls. ITS NOT YOUR FISH
yea iam going to find a used 240 gallon tank for less than 500$ i have never even seen a 200g tank let alone 240g
iam not stupid to let my fish kill each other, at the first sight of that i get the fish thats being beaten on out of there
yea iam going to find a used 240 gallon tank for less than 500$ i have never even seen a 200g tank let alone 240g
iam not stupid to let my fish kill each other, at the first sight of that i get the fish thats being beaten on out of there
I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a smart ass to you only to jinks. The fish you have are very agressive. If you want them to live their lives you need a very large tank. If you want to grow them out and then trade them thats cool too. But you will not be able to have all of the fish you listed live out their adult lives in anything less than 240 gallons. Thats my opinion, others might disagree. You want my experience. I had a ninety gallon with two JD's, a Jag, a Con, a Blackbelt, two Oscars and a Texas. Because my LFS said it was okay. It wasn't. Only two of those fish are left. If you want to see whos left than that is your perogative. But I think you are starting out with a better view than me.
sorry you should have said that first off and i really dont plan on havin all the fish only the one that i know will fight back..not be pushed around by the jag. the oscar and black belt i know will thats why iam think and hoping the pike will get a little bigger.
since you have been through this what type of dither fish should i get to help out
since you have been through this what type of dither fish should i get to help out
You are right, I wasn't clear to start. Right now in that same ninety I have the original Oscar and Blackbelt with a JD and another Oscar, also a Sun Catfish. I do a forty percent water change weekly ( my filtration is not that great, if you have good filtration I think you could go with twentry per week). I have absolutely no problems and my water parameters are fine. There are no dithers as all of these fish are "low caliber" cichlids. If you want a killer, like the jag, I would keep him solo, these fish are really cool solo. Lots of owner response but no dithers as they will be killed. If you want a 125 (I'd press for a 150 I just set one up with everything, filtration heaters etc., for 600 dollars), Id say a pair of cons, the oscar, the JD, the blackbelt and five silver dollars. Maybe a catfish of your choice and a pleco. You could also put in a school of giant danios just be prepared to replace them. Which actually isn't that big a deal.
the jack and two cons iam not keeping, the jack is a weakling and needs to grow up and the cons breed and get way to aggresive thats why the oscar is blind in one eye. i dont know if i should keep the other 2 cons or not, for the same reason. i dont want them to pit a fight with the wrong fish(jag).
the jag will still be aggresive even if he grew up with some of these fish
the jag will still be aggresive even if he grew up with some of these fish
All of the fish you have are relative sissies compared to the jag. He's in a different league. If you want him keep him and no one else otherwise look at your other options. Guapotes are absolute no holds barred killers. I am growing out a pair for a 150 and they will be the only fish. I will use a divider in the tank because the two fish will not tolerate each other.
optix mentioned to me about this guy, one of our board members, predatorcichlid. He knows alot...I mean ALOT about CA and SA cichlids. He has 16 so years of experience with cichlids. You might wanna find out some info from him regarding your Jag or any fish or what tank you should get. I found some useful info even on his website. He might be able to answer whatever questions you have 
http://community-2.webtv.net/MorganaLaFey/StansAquariumPage/
http://community-2.webtv.net/MorganaLaFey/StansAquariumPage/
proycraft - the main problem you will have will be that the fish you plan to introduce together are already mostly adult. This will lead to fights.
I have a 125 with a jag, JD ,3 GT, salvini, 2 firemouths , rhambidia(?) cat and 3 plecos. I recently removed a pair of jags outof it and an eel (24"). These fish do not really fight - mainly because they have been together since 1.5" and the tank has a lot of structure.
If you introduce your fish into a 125 - 150 , make sure you set up plenty of hidingspots, claypots and fake plants. That will help in keeping down the aggression. Next, as scott mentions , you need to preform big waterchanges - weekly. Many people keeping CA cichlids do 50% weekly.
IME jags are opportunistic feeders and not really aggressive unless the tank is way too small, barren , dirty or they are breeding.
JD you are right about, I have found them quite docile however my biggest is only 7".
Cons as any breeding cichlids will be terratorial and aggressive. If you can provide enough structure and hidingspots you should be allright.
Jewels can be nasty - when breeding. It's been a while since I had them but I don't remember them being particularly mean on a daily basis.
Oscars are big and messy - this fish will contribute considerable waste. Some people love them but I would go without. Another problem with them is that they seem to be very prone to diseases due to the messy conditions they create and once they become scarred I think they get plain ugly.
Blackbelt have a nasty reputation - though I have never had them.
Pikes - haven't had any but at the same size as the others I think they do OK as they are fast and have big mouths. If they fall behind in size thy become food.
Remember that nothing is written in stone , so get the tank you can afford and are comfortable with and just monitor the fish closley - especially in the beginning and be prepared to remove some and bring them back to the store.
One last thing, fish are individual and will have individual personallities which means what is impossibly aggressive for someone may be docile for you. If you set things up reasonably your chances for success will increase.
I have a 125 with a jag, JD ,3 GT, salvini, 2 firemouths , rhambidia(?) cat and 3 plecos. I recently removed a pair of jags outof it and an eel (24"). These fish do not really fight - mainly because they have been together since 1.5" and the tank has a lot of structure.
If you introduce your fish into a 125 - 150 , make sure you set up plenty of hidingspots, claypots and fake plants. That will help in keeping down the aggression. Next, as scott mentions , you need to preform big waterchanges - weekly. Many people keeping CA cichlids do 50% weekly.
IME jags are opportunistic feeders and not really aggressive unless the tank is way too small, barren , dirty or they are breeding.
JD you are right about, I have found them quite docile however my biggest is only 7".
Cons as any breeding cichlids will be terratorial and aggressive. If you can provide enough structure and hidingspots you should be allright.
Jewels can be nasty - when breeding. It's been a while since I had them but I don't remember them being particularly mean on a daily basis.
Oscars are big and messy - this fish will contribute considerable waste. Some people love them but I would go without. Another problem with them is that they seem to be very prone to diseases due to the messy conditions they create and once they become scarred I think they get plain ugly.
Blackbelt have a nasty reputation - though I have never had them.
Pikes - haven't had any but at the same size as the others I think they do OK as they are fast and have big mouths. If they fall behind in size thy become food.
Remember that nothing is written in stone , so get the tank you can afford and are comfortable with and just monitor the fish closley - especially in the beginning and be prepared to remove some and bring them back to the store.
One last thing, fish are individual and will have individual personallities which means what is impossibly aggressive for someone may be docile for you. If you set things up reasonably your chances for success will increase.
another thing to mention is that with CA/SA cichlids, the footprint of the tank, not the depth is key. if you have a standard 125(72x18x20) it will not house the same fish a a 125 wide(72x24x17). with cichlids always go for a tank with more bottom area over one with more gallons and more height. here is a link to a website that makes glass tanks:
glass cages
here are some acrylic tank manufacturers:
Aquart
ATM
tenecor
here is a link to plans for stands:
(moved to bottom)
if you go with glass, you don't need the plywood on top of the stand, but if you go with acrylic you need it and need to put a sheet of styrofoam on top of that to keep dirt from cracking your tank. i have built two of these stands on for a 135 that cost $25 for the wood and screws and one for a 55 that cost $18 for the wood and screws. i am going to fisish mine with finish paneling instead of finish plywood which will cost $25 a sheet. the total cost for the 135 stand will be $75 including brass hinges, handles and locks.
i hope this helps. Tim
135 stand
55 stand
the stand for the 55 will also hold a 10 gallon under it on the right side.
stand plans
glass cages
here are some acrylic tank manufacturers:
Aquart
ATM
tenecor
here is a link to plans for stands:
(moved to bottom)
if you go with glass, you don't need the plywood on top of the stand, but if you go with acrylic you need it and need to put a sheet of styrofoam on top of that to keep dirt from cracking your tank. i have built two of these stands on for a 135 that cost $25 for the wood and screws and one for a 55 that cost $18 for the wood and screws. i am going to fisish mine with finish paneling instead of finish plywood which will cost $25 a sheet. the total cost for the 135 stand will be $75 including brass hinges, handles and locks.
i hope this helps. Tim
135 stand
55 stand
the stand for the 55 will also hold a 10 gallon under it on the right side.
stand plans
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