Armatus and ATF as tankmates
- Thread starter lix.ma14
- Start date
I'd say you'd be getting amazing growth if a 6 inch ATF was 12 inches in 1 year, probably will be more like 10, and with a larger dominant fish in the tank maybe less ..... The Armatus could be 15-18 inches by then, which is scary .... if the ATF were a little bigger I'd be more confident, cause as they get bigger they get thicker, thus a 16 inch Armatus would have a much harder time eating a 10 inch ATF, than a 9 incher would have eating a 6 inch ATF in my experience with these fish at least .... I wouldn't be concerned with the Armatus badgering the ATF, since none of mine ever have, problem is him eating the ATF ... that instinct is always there unfortunately
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my armatus doesn't eat a lot so i don't think its size is going to explode anytime soon. So you are saying that armatus don't really bully the ATFs (rip fins, loosen scales etc). They just try to eat it?
i consider my 4.5 inch red wolf fish as the dominant fish since it hogs 75% of the food for itself. My armatus never bothers to compete with food. it usually just stays in one spot every day. He's a very lazy fish. Is this the normal behaviour or is it the behaviour of a calmer fish?
This.
Max grew very quickly from 4-8 inches for an ATF, getting 3/4-1 inch a month on average. Since he's hit 8" his growth has slowed incredibly. All of my other fish are starting to noticeably outgrow him. He actually looks like he's getting smaller lol. And keep in mind that GATF are the fastest growing ATF.
If you want an ATF like fish that could hang with the armie, try a tarpon. They grow pretty quick and are very, very tough critters.
Edit to add-
If you really want an ATF to be successful, the tank has to be setup around them. Little ATF (anything under 8", that seems to be the magic number) are very skittish and are easily affected by their tankmates. If you have something that will bully it, such as your red wolf or armie, the ATF is liable to bash itself on the tank really bad, not eat, jump out or any number of other bad things.
I wouldn't risk it in your situation. You already have one of the nicest, most impressive centerpiece fish that can be kept in aquaria. Why risk messing up the situation?
+1 for everything chic said and .... I have never seen my Armatus attack a tank mate with his teeth unless he was trying to eat it .... he may nudge others out of the way, but never the harassing biting temperament of a Dorado for example .... he did, when I first got him, kill a 4 inch bambusa when he was barely over 4 inches himself trying to eat it, and he tried to eat a small datnoid that miraculously survived .... so I wouldn't be worried about ripped fins I'd be worried about deep puncture wounds to a small ATF
I can tell you got it in your head to get it though, and I'm the same way as you, I just think you should get a larger ATF, say like in the 8-12 inch range, but I understand they are tough to come by ... and there's always the possibility it could work, but I would say a 5-6 inch ATF and a 9 inch Armatus are destined to fail
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I can tell you got it in your head to get it though, and I'm the same way as you, I just think you should get a larger ATF, say like in the 8-12 inch range, but I understand they are tough to come by ... and there's always the possibility it could work, but I would say a 5-6 inch ATF and a 9 inch Armatus are destined to fail
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Personally I wouldn't risk it mostly for the reasons already mentioned. If the atf was maybe 2.5" larger it might be considerable. Other than the cat I orderd a while back I dont plan on adding any tank mates until I upgrade. Unless something pops up I cant resist.
It will work perfectly if you don't mind the armatus to eat the atf. You don't have to wait long. It may happen on the first night, if not instantly at the moment you introduce the atf
Ok will do! I'll wait until until a bigger ATF is up for sale....just afraid of the increase of price! lol.
What's the earliest armatus size to ATF size ratio that I can keep them together?
thanks every one for their input!
What's the earliest armatus size to ATF size ratio that I can keep them together?
thanks every one for their input!
Personally, I'd want my GATF to be a foot long before I added a 4-5 inch armatus. Anything less than that and I wouldn't do it with my fish.
