chalceus questions

[angryinsect]

i have 3 chalceus at 3'' in a 55'' growout tank, tankmates are a 6'' sen bichir, 6'' peacock eel and a 4'' weather loach. since being intoduced (2 eeks ago)to my tank they have become more skidish than they were in the pet store (i work there so i got to do much observation). my question is will they ever grow out of this skidish behavior and if so at what size.

also, from everything i've read i understand that they are slow growers, how slow? is it going to take years to reach 7-8''. they get 30% water change 2 times a week and are being fed hikari cichlid gold, bloodworm, mysis shrimp and the occational red wiggler.

 

[Darth Scohin]

(Now bear(sp) with me I don't know anything about Pink tail Chalceus)
BUT, if they are like any other characins they are probably not use to the new tank give them a week if they dont start to become more active add some dither fish into the tank.....As for your other question I'd let PayaraMan etc answer that

 

[Otherone]

Answer - no - they are skittish fish period, mine grew to 7-8" in the 1st year in 150 gal, also they can get real nippy amongst themselves in small tanks. I had 5 in 75 gal. within 3 months was down to 2.

 

[PayaraMan]

I was looking for one of these and found three at my LFS so I picked one up. Very very skittish fish, It took about a month for it to warm up to people and before that it would dart like a lightning bolt up and down the tank every time you would enter the room, As for growth rate I've heard that this is one of the slowest growing Characins in the hobby but I cannot say so myself since i've only owned one for about a month and a half. Extremely peaceful fish not one sign of aggression whatsoever. Try feeding a variety of food to brighten up the colors and increase growth rate, And the WC's you are currently doing should be perfect to get it to grow a bit faster. But honestly I would rather have an Odoe Pike or African Pike since they are much more aggressive,less skittish, And grow much faster. I'm currently looking to replace my Chalceus with a Odoe because its simply not my type of fish.

 

[scorp]

Answer - no - they are skittish fish period, mine grew to 7-8" in the 1st year in 150 gal, also they can get real nippy amongst themselves in small tanks. I had 5 in 75 gal. within 3 months was down to 2.

I agree. They need bigger groups to feel comfortable and bigger tanks.