compatibility ??

[jpierce3]

hey, I'm new here, but this is a cool forum.

I have 2 ornatipinnis @ about 13" and 2 endlicheri @ about 9-10" (body length). I am looking at getting a pair of andinoacara aequinoctialis (gold suam terror). I'm pretty sure that the species should be alright together, but I'm worried about the size the Gold Suams. They will around 4".

Do you think that the birchirs will eat them at that size even if they are well fed? I have a 65 unstocked I can use to grow them up if need be. If you think I need to grow them, how big would you think?

If you think the Gold Suams won't work at all, I will need to know. I'm having them shipped to me on Monday.

Thanks

 

[JML1997]

You would need to grow them out to about 10", but they should work fine at that size..

 

[jpierce3]

ok cool. I definitely want them to get about 10" or better. I'm just worried about them initially.

thanks

 

[benzjamin13]

I don't think 10" is necessary. I got a few Polys around 12" with a 5" Datnoid. However, Dats are "tall" fish. I think you should be safe if you grow them out to 6"-7" Just look at the girth of the fish. GTs are pretty robust fish and should be fine with a 13" Poly at around the 6"-7" mark. Since your biggest Poly are upperjaws, they don't really have that big of mouths too.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

IMO, anything above 1/2 their size is safe.

However you should be weary as ornates are known to be aggressive
And endli have been known to take down prey the same size as them (even if they cannot swallow them).

 

[jpierce3]

Thanks. Good advice. believe i will put them in my 65 for now until they out grow out of it. The ornates don't seem to be real aggressive that i have noticed. But I will remember that about the endlis. I will make sure they stay well fed.

I was thinking about it anyway, and terrors that young shouldn't be getting as much protein as I feed the birchirs on a regular basis. At least not until they are older.