Largest fish for 85 gallons?

Kipsoar

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 23, 2017
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Hi all,
I'm looking for advice on stocking my 85 gallon freshwater tank (4' long) equipped with a fluval 406 cannister filter. I upgraded from a 50 gallon as I wanted to keep Bigger fish. I've got a single Bala shark about 5" and a pair of tinfoil barbs each about 4" in length, as said "bigger fish". Problem being they are going to outgrow my tank and I'll be very sad when I have to send them to a new home. I'm hoping somebody can help me out with some ideas for the largest fish that can happily live in an 85 gallon tank. That said I am also trying to avoid cichlids. I know I'm asking for a lot but any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
 

Hendre

Bawitius
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Jan 14, 2016
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Polypterus! 4ft restricts you, but some polys are a good fit! :)

Welcome aboard :D
 
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TheMoneyTank(TMT)

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 10, 2017
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Hi all,
I'm looking for advice on stocking my 85 gallon freshwater tank (4' long) equipped with a fluval 406 cannister filter. I upgraded from a 50 gallon as I wanted to keep Bigger fish. I've got a single Bala shark about 5" and a pair of tinfoil barbs each about 4" in length, as said "bigger fish". Problem being they are going to outgrow my tank and I'll be very sad when I have to send them to a new home. I'm hoping somebody can help me out with some ideas for the largest fish that can happily live in an 85 gallon tank. That said I am also trying to avoid cichlids. I know I'm asking for a lot but any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
If you went oddballs some options suitable include
Silver dollars (12-15cm)
Striped pike characin (15-20cm)
Leopard bushfish (12-15cm)
Rainbow snakehead (15-18cm)
Red fin wolf fish (18-22cm)
African knife fish (15-22cm)
Synodontis Angelicus (15-25cm)
If you want more community options
Torpedo barbs (10-12cm)
Yo yo loaches (11-15cm)
Snakeskin gourami (15-18cm)
Scissortail rasbora (10-12cm)
Congo Tetras (7-9cm)
Upside down catfish (8-10cm)
If you want any plecos some options include
Zebra plecos (8-10cm)
Green/blue phantom plecos (18-22cm)
Gold nugget pleco (15-18cm)
Flash pleco (12-15cm)
Bristlenose plecos (10-15cm)
 
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Hendre

Bawitius
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Your sizes are rather off, I've seen 20cm bushfish, 25cm knives and snakeskin gouramis reach 25-30cm

Snakehead are also illegal in the US remember :p

All good suggestions though
 
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TheMoneyTank(TMT)

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 10, 2017
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Your sizes are rather off, I've seen 20cm bushfish, 25cm knives and snakeskin gouramis reach 25-30cm

Snakehead are also illegal in the US remember :p

All good suggestions though
I'm from the UK aha fish must be smaller over the pond
 

TheLastKon

Plecostomus
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Sep 18, 2015
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If you want a solo fish that will get huge and still be relatively happy in an 85 get a lungfish. And it's an easy fish to take care of.
 
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