ATF
- Thread starter w3arB3aR
- Start date
Phulltank, I personally don't wish to force such a large active fish to tame himself in the confines of a conventional tank.
These fish live in large fast-moving rivers and large bodies of water in the wild, and unlike many other popular aquarium fish, they are physiologically DESIGNED to live in such environments.
I can't imagine how much trauma a typical atf has to go through to acclimate itself to a tank where it can't use anything NEAR its full speed potential, without smashing its face on a glass pane. ATFs evolved to knife through tough river currents and blast through large bodies of water at high speeds.
You say "actions speak louder than words", I just see a fish that has merciless restrictions set upon its natural behavior. And god only knows how many times it had to ram the glass and knock its teeth out to 'tame' itself to a tank.
The motaguense in your tank is a fish much better designed for placid behavior.
Everyone on this site including me could be considered a selfish ******* in the first place for just keeping ANY fish in a glass box, but nonetheless my standards dictate that one should at least make a VAGUE effort at keeping fish in a way that suits their nature-- and I think everyone else must have similar standards, since I never see anyone here promoting Oscars for 10 gallon tanks. And my opinion is that fish like ATFs do not even vaguely live like they should in a conventional 240g aquarium setup as they pass, say, 10". Hence my argument.
These fish live in large fast-moving rivers and large bodies of water in the wild, and unlike many other popular aquarium fish, they are physiologically DESIGNED to live in such environments.
I can't imagine how much trauma a typical atf has to go through to acclimate itself to a tank where it can't use anything NEAR its full speed potential, without smashing its face on a glass pane. ATFs evolved to knife through tough river currents and blast through large bodies of water at high speeds.
You say "actions speak louder than words", I just see a fish that has merciless restrictions set upon its natural behavior. And god only knows how many times it had to ram the glass and knock its teeth out to 'tame' itself to a tank.
The motaguense in your tank is a fish much better designed for placid behavior.
Everyone on this site including me could be considered a selfish ******* in the first place for just keeping ANY fish in a glass box, but nonetheless my standards dictate that one should at least make a VAGUE effort at keeping fish in a way that suits their nature-- and I think everyone else must have similar standards, since I never see anyone here promoting Oscars for 10 gallon tanks. And my opinion is that fish like ATFs do not even vaguely live like they should in a conventional 240g aquarium setup as they pass, say, 10". Hence my argument.
almost all fish have to adjust to tank life some how. the biggest tank you get still wouldnt compare to the wild. i bet you have fish piranha45 that shouldnt be in a tank bc they are from a large body of water or something. most these fish start of in tanks at a young age so they adapt. but you are right when you say they will not grow up the same as one would b in the wild
It makes you a lucky bugger for having found one.PhullTank57 said:I've kept a 17-18" Forskalli ATF successfully in a 240 comm. tank... does that make me a scumbag??!!
The whole argument as to whether or not a fish from a large body of water should be confined seems a bit skewed to me, this fish (Elassoma okefenokee), picture by Borstein, comes from a body of water that stretches over 438,000 acres, does that mean I should not keep a pair in a 5G tank?
Thank you very much, Guppy! 
And that other Forskalli pic with the motoguense... is in a 900g tank. And even bigger than ever now. Wait a minute, 900g is still too small for an ATF, right?? 
P45, have you forgotten??... this site is called MonsterFishKeepers.com.
And that other Forskalli pic with the motoguense... is in a 900g tank. And even bigger than ever now. Wait a minute, 900g is still too small for an ATF, right?? 
obviously, noone actually read my post.
try reading it again, and if you have anything to say after that then by all means, respond.
phulltank u inferred you were keeping it in a 240g in your prior post. nonetheless i remain quite skeptical that a, say, 5 foot by 5 foot by 10 foot tank offers sufficient space for such a fish, anyway. I'm ignorant of their exact physical capabilities (top speed, and general movement tendencies, for example), but given their natural lifestyle it would seem to me that such a tank is one that I would deem greatly insufficient in size for a fish that was intended to be kept throughout its adult life.
Unless you have a more logically-sound argument to present (after you actually bother addressing my prior post, that is), I think we have nothing more to discuss since my arguments don't compel you and yours don't compel me. We can all be MonsterFishKeepers, but piranha45 often feels that some members think this site is called MonsterFishCrammers, instead.
try reading it again, and if you have anything to say after that then by all means, respond.
phulltank u inferred you were keeping it in a 240g in your prior post. nonetheless i remain quite skeptical that a, say, 5 foot by 5 foot by 10 foot tank offers sufficient space for such a fish, anyway. I'm ignorant of their exact physical capabilities (top speed, and general movement tendencies, for example), but given their natural lifestyle it would seem to me that such a tank is one that I would deem greatly insufficient in size for a fish that was intended to be kept throughout its adult life.
Unless you have a more logically-sound argument to present (after you actually bother addressing my prior post, that is), I think we have nothing more to discuss since my arguments don't compel you and yours don't compel me. We can all be MonsterFishKeepers, but piranha45 often feels that some members think this site is called MonsterFishCrammers, instead.
Lol! It's all good, Pirahna45... to each, their own opinion. I know where you are coming from and I totally understand your views.
My respects for always standing up for what you beleive in, stay that way. Be real and always be true! Peace, P45! 
