Custom tank for breeding pair of festae, dimensions??

[David R]

I've got 8 small festae growing out, hoping to get a breeding pair out of them, and will be getting a tank made for them. Anything over about 3' is made to order (not off-the-shelf) so I can get it built to any dimensions. I was thinking of going for something short and wide like a 4x2' footprint, or 4x30", would that be enough for the pair? I know bigger is better, but space in the fishroom is limited. Will most likely be filtered by a wet/dry sump.

Cheers

 

[Sarah88]

For life you will probably want to get something that is 6ft, though the 4ft will hold them for awhile i think eventually a 6ft would be better just for aggresion's sake the female would have an easier time getting away from the male if she has to than in a 4ft tank

 

[blackghostuk]

4' is small. You could do it but you might need a divider most of the time. A thin 6' would be better. The most imprtant thing is that she can get distance between them if she has to. Regardless of what size tank you go for, always have a pipe/cave that she can get into and he cant.

 

[Branch]

I agree with that. Six feet is a minimum

 

[qguy]

I once read an article in a old old magazine issue, Not sure it was TFH or practical fishkeeping where the pair was housed in 36 x 18 x18, the male was 18 inches and the female was 12. It had eggcrate divider for the females safety. I reckon the make is moved out of the tank once he is done with his duties.

 

[David R]

It had eggcrate divider for the females safety. I reckon the make is moved out of the tank once he is done with his duties.

Thats an idea, I was hoping on getting a pair plus a single big male for a display tank, but I guess the one big male could do both jobs. I'm planning on separating them as soon as they're sexable and growing out the boys and girls separately.

 

[livebearerfreak]

why not 5 foot long by 3 foot wide? maybe 3.5?

 

[David R]

Thats a possibility. Would I be able to get away with a smaller tank if the male is only in there to fertilise the eggs and is removed after spawning? Or still risky...