Are you A Fish Hoarder?? I think I’m real close

[baowie]

I think I'm becoming a fish hoarder. I currently have 165, 40, 10 gallon tanks. I'm picking up a 15 gallon tank today. It took awhile to convince the wife. Told her I'm going to sell one of my datnoid to get the tank (I was joking with her, but she took it serious cause she love the 5 datnoids we have. So she say fine go get it as long you don't sell those datnoids. LOL). Once I move into my new house this summer I'm getting a 300 gallons tank. Using my whole basement as my fish area.


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[Nexxus]

LOL. i think im the exact opposite of a hoarder. Ive had ALL kinds of fish and most of them only last 6 months or so until they are sold/traded for other sp. of fish. The fish that lasted the longest with me were my pair of Orino Cichla that i have for a year back in 09.. my wife says i have a problem because i always have to be changing whats going on in my tanks....

 

[pacu mom]

I got my three pacu from petsmart, the lady looked at me like I was crazy and said you know these get real big don'tcha ? I said yep and can I get one of those monster ID sharks too.

Big is relative to the fish, 24 inches although big, it's still manageable and it's not like they will grow that big in 2 days, more like 2-5 years depending on the pacu. Oscar's get what 12 inches, some 18 inches ? Six more inches wow, stop the press. Why doesn't anyone say petsmart should not sell oscars ? One 24 inch pacu does not need a 3000 gallon tank. If one 18 inch oscar or two can be ok in a 75, 125, etc then so can a pacu. If you ever seen the way pacu swim, they are very adaptable and can easily turn in small spaces, better even than an oscar. Having more room is always a plus, however, it's also a personal preference. Pacu are some of the most hardy and easiest fish to care for. I hand feed mine and pet them, they are around 5-6 inches and some of my favorites. The arowana doesn't like them because they make him jump and hit the lid with their skittish movements, so I'm moving them to their own tank.

I sorry, but I don't agree with you. Our yardsale 55 gallon tank came with two 15" pacu. Their faces were smashed against the glass, and their tails were smashed against the far wall when they turned in that 12" wide tank. They struggled to turn in that small tank. Your 24" length comparison is also not a good one. If a pacu makes it to 24", it will be about 12" tall and at least 3" thick. How much water will it have above and below it in an 18" tall tank? or even a 24" tank? The biggest argument for not keeping pacu in small tanks is that it becomes very difficult to maintain good water parameters because of the huge bioloads they produce. A drip system changing out 100% of the water every day might work. My observation is that pacu do not survive long in poor water conditions.

I belonged to a pacu forum. The owner, and the two moderators had their pacus in 75 gallon tanks. At around two years, both moderators lost their pacus. The forum went defunct. Pacu are fish that can live 30+ years in a good environment. To keep them in conditions that cause them to die in two years is plain wrong. A large tank makes it much easier to maintain good water parameters.

A big fish may survive for years in a small tank, but it doesn't make it right. These two pics have been circulated on MFK

 

[f1shy]

I sorry, but I don't agree with you. Our yardsale 55 gallon tank came with two 15" pacu. Their faces were smashed against the glass, and their tails were smashed against the far wall when they turned in that 12" wide tank. They struggled to turn in that small tank. Your 24" length comparison is also not a good one. If a pacu makes it to 24", it will be about 12" tall and at least 3" thick. How much water will it have above and below it in an 18" tall tank? or even a 24" tank? The biggest argument for not keeping pacu in small tanks is that it becomes very difficult to maintain good water parameters because of the huge bioloads they produce. A drip system changing out 100% of the water every day might work. My observation is that pacu do not survive long in poor water conditions.

I belonged to a pacu forum. The owner, and the two moderators had their pacus in 75 gallon tanks. At around two years, both moderators lost their pacus. The forum went defunct. Pacu are fish that can live 30+ years in a good environment. To keep them in conditions that cause them to die in two years is plain wrong. A large tank makes it much easier to maintain good water parameters.

A big fish may survive for years in a small tank, but it doesn't make it right. These two pics have been circulated on MFK

wow those pics are crazy never thought anybody would do something like that especially the second one

 

[plecostic]

I sorry, but I don't agree with you. Our yardsale 55 gallon tank came with two 15" pacu. Their faces were smashed against the glass, and their tails were smashed against the far wall when they turned in that 12" wide tank. They struggled to turn in that small tank. Your 24" length comparison is also not a good one. If a pacu makes it to 24", it will be about 12" tall and at least 3" thick. How much water will it have above and below it in an 18" tall tank? or even a 24" tank? The biggest argument for not keeping pacu in small tanks is that it becomes very difficult to maintain good water parameters because of the huge bioloads they produce. A drip system changing out 100% of the water every day might work. My observation is that pacu do not survive long in poor water conditions.

I belonged to a pacu forum. The owner, and the two moderators had their pacus in 75 gallon tanks. At around two years, both moderators lost their pacus. The forum went defunct. Pacu are fish that can live 30+ years in a good environment. To keep them in conditions that cause them to die in two years is plain wrong. A large tank makes it much easier to maintain good water parameters.

Obviously 12 inches is too small for a 15 inch pacu, yet alone two of them. The point I was trying to make is some tend to go to extremes when it comes to how much aquarium fish need. You got the ones who can afford thousands of gallons lifting their noses up to those with only small 500 gallons and the the ones with the 500 gallons stick their noses up to the ones with 300 gallons, it's a never ending debate on who's is bigger. The fact that fish are even in housed in a home aquarium regardless of how big adds up to poor conditions, so your preaching to the choir. Fish need enough space to move, no question about that, how much is relative. A 3ft wide tank would be plenty of width for a single pacu, but then you would have someone tell you they can get to 5 ft and you need a bigger tank. If a fish dies it is either due to poor water conditions or a fluk, it won't be because of the size of the tank. You might think they are unhappy but as long as they get fed and the water conditions are good, they will thrive. Like I said previously, a single 24 inch pacu does not need a 3000 gallon tank but if you can afford it then by all means go for it. An adequate length, width and height sensibly proportion to the fish is all you really need. I've seen heavy stocked tanks look really good and the fish seemed very happy so the size of the tank is relative.

Those two pictures look fake lol I've seen them before.

 

[MonsterPeacock]

Just moved it all into my basement. Going to grab supplies, then clean up and setup tonight!

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Nice!! Whatcha planing on putting in it...Cichla?

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Eventually, just dumped a bunch of fish in it from other tanks of mine that needed rehousing while I move things around. The tank will be broken down and reassembled later this year as I finish the basement. Then it will get its more permanent residence.

 

[MonsterPeacock]

Eventually, just dumped a bunch of fish in it from other tanks of mine that needed rehousing while I move things around. The tank will be broken down and reassembled later this year as I finish the basement. Then it will get its more permanent residence.

Is this your biggest tank to date? I remember when I got up to 300gal for the first time...It was almost like being with a girl for the first time...lol Problem was after awhile it wasn't big enough anymore and I moved up to a 500, than got two, now I'm designing a 2500 gal DIY ...Apparently I'M into BBW...Because there never big enough...lol

 

[dstone]

now i now i'm not alone at the moment i have 6 tanks going in my house. my wife also slows me down

 

[woofy]

Ive said it time after time you all need to learn from cichlaholics anonymous and marry someone you meet on mfk :grinsyes: