20 gallon long stocking ideas?

[TonyS20]

Yo know better than I do, as you have actually kept them, all I can say is I have seen/heard about Ctenapoma that grew to 10"+ and were rather destructive.

I'm no expert but my experience differed from what most people find with Leopard Bush fish. Had three together and they was very peaceful, they would chase but never actually do damage to one another. I guess every fish has a unique personality so i may have just got lucky.

I had 3 Leopard Bush fish and 7 Wrestling Halfbeaks in a 30 (Imperial) gallon tank. Heavily planted with STRONG filtration. 30% twice weekly water changes and they thrived for years. One got to approximately 7" the other two didn't get passed 6 inches.

I wouldn't worry so much about one in a 20 gallon tank because they take a long long time to even hit 6". We talking years for this species to reach maximum adult size.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Would love to see a picture or vid of a ctenopoma that is larger than 7" if anybody has one, I have never heard of one that large until now. Would be cool to see. The one in that vid does not look larger than 6" to me, unless those are the largest ottos and tetras ever.

 

[J. H.]

Would love to see a picture or vid of a ctenopoma that is larger than 7" if anybody has one, I have never heard of one that large until now. Would be cool to see. The one in that vid does not look larger than 6" to me, unless those are the largest ottos and tetras ever.

Here is a current video of that same ctenapoma. It appears at about 4:00. It is much bigger now. I picked that other video before because it is eating its tankmates i that one.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Here is a current video of that same ctenapoma. It appears at about 4:00. It is much bigger now. I picked that other video before because it is eating its tankmates i that one.

Wow, biggest one I have seen! Okay, maybe not a good choice for a 20 gallon unless it is a grow-out. Thanks for posting

 

[Gourami Swami]

Here is a current video of that same ctenapoma. It appears at about 4:00. It is much bigger now. I picked that other video before because it is eating its tankmates i that one.

After watching the video a couple more times, It looks like that ctenopoma is more like 7" than 10". The Australian rainbows in there look to be full grown and only get around 4", to compare the size.

Either way, still the largest one I have seen and I agree that I would not keep that fish in a 20 gallon.

 

[J. H.]

I was judging it against the Mayan, featherfin and the Snakeskin, which can be big fish, but you are probably right.

 

[magpie]

I can't imagine having one for long in a 20L. It would also really limit what you could have in there with it for bioload. These guys are huge pigs. Most fish suited for a 20L would be snacks to a cteno. Their mouths are really large. Mine was harassing white-tipped tetras even though he coudn't eat them, so I had to separate them as the tetras were stressed all the time and constantly hiding. And again, that was in a heavily planted 65.

 

[ngav3]

If i wanted to keep a single male convict in there, would the tank be too small for him, and could he live happily by himself?

 

[TonyS20]

If i wanted to keep a single male convict in there, would the tank be too small for him, and could he live happily by himself?

20 long can easily house a male convict. Could even keep a pair in that.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

If i wanted to keep a single male convict in there, would the tank be too small for him, and could he live happily by himself?

Yes it is in my opinion. I believe a tank that size is only big enough for dwarf cichlids.