Can I get these Snooks?

[phoenixx]

Hi. Just looking for thoughtful comments, but a bit of humor if you feel the need is certainly welcome! I am trying to resist an impulse buy, but now that I am trading in 5 other fish it frees up space and now kind of makes sense.

There have been these two 4" Petenia splendida "Red Bay Snooks" red morph at a fish shop for the last 2 months in a 20g. It's the same tank I got my similar sized Mangrove Jack from but he was beating on them so I resisted purchasing them as well. Every week I go in there I see them and every week I end up walking out resisting the impulse buy. They also have a huuuge dispaly tank with MFK sticker set up in the back which has two Snooks at about 10" each. I know they get much bigger and thats why I'm hesitant.

How quick do these guys grow? What do you guys think about keeping these two in a 72g 4footer with an oreochromis tangnicea (AFRICAN cichlid, similar temperment, similar current and max. size) and a 3" Frontosa for a while. I figure I have between 12 to 18 months before I need to upgrade my Jack into a 240g of his own. Then I could move the 4 cichlids into a 125g 6footer.

 

[BIGgourami]

well what size is the jack? the snooks?
cause if you've got a jd in a 20, i assume you have a larger tank that you'll put him in? maybe it was just the size difference,or the stress from being shipped to the store.
just some thoughts.

 

[phoenixx]

Mangrove Jack is 6" and growing. He is in a 125g 6footer of his own.

The Snooks at the lfs are 4" each and are housed in a 20g. Those two, if I got them, would be going in my 72g with a 6" Oreochromis tangnicea and a 3" Cyphotalipia frontosa. The Oreo. is an African cichlid with similar temperment/ max. size/diet/water temp requirements.

 

[phoenixx]

oh yeah, how do you sex Red Bay Snooks? Is it even possible at 4"

 

[BIGgourami]

that might be a little too soon to tell.
how big was the jack at the store?
if you buy them and keep them in the 72, but try to put them in with the jd. if it doesn't work out you can always put them back in the 72.
i say go for it.

 

[BIGgourami]

also the males tend to be more showyand redder and should be a little bit bigger than the females.

 

[phoenixx]

Is that fish dead in your avatar? It looks cool either way. Also, thats a Mangrove Jack in my 125 not a JD. The 4" Mangrove Jack was harassing the 4" Snooks and I hear Mangrove Jacks only get more aggro with size. I had to trade in a 7" Hampala Barb becuase the Jack was bitting off its scales.

Like you said I could always try and if it didnt work put them back in their own tank. I'm just wondering if a 72 would be suitable for a year or so for 2 4" Snooks and a 5" Oreo. tangnicea

 

[Gourami Swami]

I dont thibnk he means JD. He says its a mangrve jack... which is this

If so, Ive never had any experience with their level of aggro, but large snooks can stand up for them selves. They are decently fast growers, too, at around 1" per month IME.

 

[Bderick67]

probably not... but if ya got plans for monster tanks in the future then yes. Are they turning orange in color yet? Mine are only 1.5 inches so I've got a few months before i see the orange. They are in a 72g bow front currently but will be joining my silver aro in a 300 or 370 gallon tank this summer.

 

[BIGgourami]

gfjiguibaigubafg
nevermind!