dat guestion

[killerfish]

just saw some in real life and i want one. how big of a tank is the minimum and can thay live with cichlids?

[AquataHolic420]

Depending on how big you get it.. they are pretty slow growers, and if you get a little 1 " guy then u could have him in as small as a 20G for awhile. But for life of one of these ALOT bigger.. they can get over a foot...

[killerfish]

so could one live in a 100 gallon for life

[AquataHolic420]

I mean it could, but it would have stunted growth and probably be stressed out.. i have a 3.5"-4" thinbar, and hes in my 92, and loves it.. but i'd say like a 180+++ for life without the fish being stunted and not stressed out.. but they GROW slow, so you got time!! i hear once they hit 5-6 inches they practically stop growin,, like an inch or maybe 2 tops a year! Good luck!

this is mine from FISH ROOM PLUS!!!!THANK YOU AGIAN... when it was only 2.5"

[killerfish]

what if i did large water changes would that keep it from geting stunted

[soulFish]

I know everyone is saying they grow slow, but hte one I'm getting is said it's only two years old and he's about 6-8" and lived his whole life in a 120Gal. The guy said he got him when hee was really small and fed them lots of feeders and stripes of raw fish.

[95Harley]

Growth rate and tank size...well I got mine back in March 2005 so let's say 2 years....Here are the before and now pics in a 240. And I only feed them 2-3 times a week.

[95Harley]

So I'd say they grow at a pretty solid rate. Look at the third picture. That same fish beside the Aro 2 yrs later. And my Aro is about 22-23".

[allegra]

95Harley you have some nice looking dats with sharp markings!

[BIGgourami]

i was thinking about keeping dats.
should you keep them in a group? how are they with plants? and is it 180gal for the 1 fish? if i get more than one how much bigger should it be? i was thinking three or four.