Gauge the risk of this combo

[bottles]

The only problem that I see would be with the ornate. I've kept a number of them over the years and they can get pretty aggressive after the 12-14" mark. Any fish resting after lights out is a potential victim to tail shredding and/or death; especially slim silvery fish. If you decide to go with it, just make sure the FATF is a good size. The wolf may be at risk too since the ornate will outgrow it significantly. I had a 16" ornate do a good amount of damage to a number of fish in a single night including a 13" snakehead; no fatalities though.

 

[lix.ma14]

Sorry to hear that man! Would have been a hell of a fight to watch



Oh yes, would you think it would be a good idea letting it chill in a divided area, where the wolf can see but not get to him so he gets used to him? Or could that make it worse? I will be adding dithers beforehand, gymno balzaniis and other geos



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I'm sure the aro stood no chance. That wolf was the meanest fish I've ever kept. He picked on my armatus that was twice his size...and won.

 

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

The only problem that I see would be with the ornate. I've kept a number of them over the years and they can get pretty aggressive after the 12-14" mark. Any fish resting after lights out is a potential victim to tail shredding and/or death; especially slim silvery fish. If you decide to go with it, just make sure the FATF is a good size. The wolf may be at risk too since the ornate will outgrow it significantly. I had a 16" ornate do a good amount of damage to a number of fish in a single night including a 13" snakehead; no fatalities though.

Hmm yes I've heard of this happening once they get around there.. if he's too bad I'll probably just sell him. I don't want any single fish in the tank that could maim or possibly kill the other fish over night. Hopefully his growth slows down though because I've had him since he was 3 inches, beautiful disposition to other fish as he is now, only nipping when my wolf nudges him around a little too much. As I said though, if he's gotta go he's gotta go. The wolf will for sure be at risk haha that's why I hope he stays around the more common CB size of the ornates, although he is supposedly F1

I'm sure the aro stood no chance. That wolf was the meanest fish I've ever kept. He picked on my armatus that was twice his size...and won.

Oh wow. He is a lil bugger, goes nuts whenever I move him from tank to tank, never nips but nudges my Ornate (biggest fish), seems to leave my new gold dust alone though. They actually swim together side by side.

I'm not a fan of divided tanks. If I have a problem fish, I separate it or sell it. JMO though.

That is my plan, but my theory is that the wolf may not be as rough with him if he could see him through a grate barrier for a couple days, then take the barrier out, see how it does, and if its a no go then I will put my wolf in the 40, then put my geophagus w/ my bichirs, which need to get a lil larger to avoid being bullied to death by the wolf, since I would imagine small cichlids like that remind him of lunch back in SA. Not big enough to be eaten, but not big enough to hold their own. They may fall prey to the ornate but oh well haha. Then my cten and Senegal can go into like a foot long divided piece of the 70 temporarily.

While he's not a red wolf, my Mala certainly has mood swings. My 180 can go a few weeks with no incident then BAM! perfect outline of my mala's teeth on my clown knife and my Odoe's tail is messed up again. They are AWESOME fish, but I would be hesitant to put it with anything that couldn't take a bite or two and survive.

Have you considered moving the red wolf to the 40br? It would be plenty of room for now, and possibly his entire life (..deep breath, don't tear me apart for saying that). Then you could comfortably keep the FATF in the 70, since bichirs are just about the "ketchup" of tankmates: that is to say, they go with just about everything.

I plan on doing this if problems arise, but the thing is as stated above I use it as a grow out for 2x heckelli threadfins 1x gymno balzani 1x Senegal (I felt bad for since he was in a cramped, small, no cave tank w/ 20 larger bala sharks, they would nip him as they flew by) and 1x leo ctenopoma (which my friends brother bought and had in a ten gallon for 2 months and never planned to upgrade so I took it in he seems to have grown slightly which is good)

So my plan is I would put a divider to cut off about a foot of the 70 in order to place the cten and sen, whereas the geos can go with the bichirs and FATF as dither/cleanup crew. TEMPORARILY, I would sell the wolf and get the cten and sen back in the 30. The sen is only 2 inch and the cten 2.5 so their not ready for the big boys at all yet.

Don't want to not have a grow out tank either (which is why I won't just keep the wolf in there for life) ! That's the dilemma, unless anyone can reccomend me the cheapest possible large fish safe container I can toss a filter and heater into for temporary housing, the wolf can go in the 40 when my Senegal and Cten get large enough. That's the only way I can imagine I can keep my wolf. I love the little guy, he got me into characins. I only want to sell him as a last resort, and if I do it'll be to someone I know will take good care of him. I honeslty love him more then some dogs (my moms terriers... I was playing with Newfie pups and Aussie shepherds pups the whole time and we walk out with a damn little jack russel x west highland x mini poodle mix. He's an ass)

Think I got all my bases covered for this? I want to do it right and I'm going to do it right. This fatf will be a great addition, I feel ATF in general are the ultimate characin and the minute I found out there is one I can keep now and not in 15 years when I have at least a 500 in my own house, I got so damn excited opening that box will be like me when I was 5 on Xmas morning

EDIT btw that's what I've heard for a minimum for the reds for life, I feel like he would be just fine for life in there. I would like to figure out a cheap quick tank, doesn't matter if I can see through it really. I'll just cut a hole and make a window by siliconing a piece of glass to it.

Thanks for the help everyone, and thank you especially for reading through this huge post!!!

Also to lix, how did you introduce your wolf? Was he the first fish in the tank or was he added at a large size while the other fish in the tank were a large size? I want to figure out more about the reds behaviour. One of my fav characins
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[Stuginski]

Hi Buffalo, I understand your anxiety! Tigers are amazing fishes! If I could put a FATF in my tank I would be like you! I don't have any experience with red wolves, if it was a golden wolf I would say: Don't do it! I saw many fishes with serious damage and some dead...when they are put together with goldens in small tanks.


Good lucky with your FATF!!!!


D.

 

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

Thanks stug! Should be getting her early this week, ive scrapped the idea of comming my red and am selling him to a friends father who's going to keep him in a 55 in his room, he keeps a hexagon of angels and a big semi aggressive comm but wanted something mean for his room, luckily I asked my buddy at the right time. Now I can visit and make sure he's being well taken care of

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[Stuginski]

Thanks stug! Should be getting her early this week, ive scrapped the idea of comming my red and am selling him to a friends father who's going to keep him in a 55 in his room, he keeps a hexagon of angels and a big semi aggressive comm but wanted something mean for his room, luckily I asked my buddy at the right time. Now I can visit and make sure he's being well taken care of

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Good news bro! Nice!

D.