8x3x3

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Finster90

Exodon
MFK Member
Oct 25, 2022
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I'm looking for advice. I'm looking to do a GT only tank in one of my 8x3x3.. I most likely will put them up as juvenile and grow them out. They are one of my favorite fishes. My question is, is this possible? I will create a lot of space for hiding and line of sight breaks.
How many would go well in a 8x3x3?
 
This guy has a 600 gallon that’s about the same volume as yours and he raises a group of true green terrors, Andinoacara stalsbergi, along with some other cichlids without issues.

He gives them plenty of territory and with the amount of space, it seems to cut down on aggression.


 
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With that size tank, and its large space you will do very well.
IMG_2339.jpeg
That said, because GTs are extremely territorrial , even in that much space, issues may arise as they hits maturity.

IMG_0868.jpeg
About 5 years ago, I started a 6 ft tank with a dozen wild caught Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus (GTs smaller cousin).
They did well for just about 3 years, until maturity kicked in.
As juvies they would often hunt together like a pack like wolves, to take down larger prey than themselves.
At the maturity point , someting snapped, and the most alpha of the males took out all other males, and a few unreceptive females.
IMG_0827.jpeg
Leaving just 3 females, and himself to coexist in that 6 ft amount of space (180 galls).
I used geographically correct Tetrasas dither fish, and a couple Awaous gobies as tank mates, which were basicall ignored (no other cichlids shared the space)
IMG_9157.jpeg
After his purge, he spawned intermittantly with the 3 females on and off for without incident years.
IMG_6372.jpegIMG_9246.jpegIMG_6404.jpeg
Once this genus gets past the vurnerable shoaling stage, they usually become loners,
even an 8 ft tank, is a puddle compared to the spaces where I collect this species.
IMG_0243.jpeg
Where I find them, I often find just a pair, or 2, in a stetch of river the size of a city block.
And just for reference, the Andinioacara I collect are a smaller species than A rivulatus or stalsbergi, but share th same basic attitude.
 
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duanes said:
With that size tank, and its large space you will do very well.
View attachment 1570994
That said, because GTs are extremely territorrial , even in that much space, issues may arise as they hits maturity.

View attachment 1570993
About 5 years ago, I started a 6 ft tank with a dozen wild caught Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus (GTs smaller cousin).
They did well for just about 3 years, until maturity kicked in.
As juvies they would often hunt together like a pack like wolves, to take down larger prey than themselves.
At the maturity point , someting snapped, and the most alpha of the males took out all other males, and a few unreceptive females.
View attachment 1570996
Leaving just 3 females, and himself to coexist in that 6 ft amount of space (180 galls).
I used geographically correct Tetrasas dither fish, and a couple Awaous gobies as tank mates, which were basicall ignored (no other cichlids shared the space)
View attachment 1570997
After his purge, he spawned intermittantly with the 3 females on and off for without incident years.
View attachment 1570999View attachment 1570998View attachment 1571000
Once this genus gets past the vurnerable shoaling stage, they usually become loners,
even an 8 ft tank, is a puddle compared to the spaces where I collect this species.
View attachment 1571001
Where I find them, I often find just a pair, or 2, in a stetch of river the size of a city block.
And just for reference, the Andinioacara I collect are a smaller species than A rivulatus or stalsbergi, but share th same basic attitude.
Click to expand...
Awesome Duane as always. I already assumed there will be Territorial issues as they mature. I will try my best to mitigate that with tank setup. How many would you suggest I start with for my tank size
 
duanes said:
If possible, before getting the GTs, I would heavily plant the tank to allow plants to get a strong rooted foothold., and use species from thelink below
And if I were to use dither fish, and would use species from the lst below
Click to expand...
That was my plan,.I have a 500 planted tank that a prop from so I already pulled plants from there for this tank that have been growing for a month or so now in the 8x3x3
 
duanes said:
If possible, before getting the GTs, I would heavily plant the tank to allow plants to get a strong rooted foothold., and use species from thelink below
And if I were to use dither fish, and would use species from the lst below
Click to expand...
Also with that, how many should I start with
 
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