going brackish

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Naturally I disagree with this :) My scats arnt true scats...silver scats are a trade name because they are so similar looking to an argus fish, they are more correctly known as an austraillian silver butterfish which tops out around 8". They are around 7" and havent grown since I purchased them several years ago. My colombians are about 2" body size...the Puffers might be 2"....and the monos altho they have grown quite a bit in the last 2 months are still a bit larger than quarter body size, and the archers 3.5". You cant really argue that these fish are cramped to death or will be anytime in the extremely near future in a 48*24*20" tank. Most of the fish will be sitting pretty here for life. IMO those sizes are also a tad over stated, granted I do feed my fish about 90% on frozen mysis and bloodworms and their water is pristine so they could quite possibly grow to their maximum size in the wild in my tank. Also monos and puffers, and archers arnt really known for their expecially fast growth rates I estimate I have several years for these fish in this tank. My colombians are a diffrent story tho...they are rather quick growing, which is oK they have a 125G tank in my basement waiting for the day that they need it, I also have a ~450G cattle trough(altho this was purchased for when the Pacu outgrew the 150) and several 55G and 75G tanks....and more than enough equipment to run them...if and when I need to set them back up.
 
You said all thosae fish would be OK in the 100g for life, not that you were planning on upgrading them at any time. That's were my problem was.

Any fish can grow to or even outgrow their wild size in captivity, given great water, food & room.
 
I said most would be oK for life or atleast a couple years, I believe this to be true. I know that they can outgrow their wild size in the tank...Ive never seen a ft long archer...so it would just shock me if mine were to get that large. I expect them to get around 9" since that where alot of them tend to max out. Sort of like most oscars max around the 12-14" mark whereas others can get over 16". I also keep my tanks stocked a bit on the thick side...I admit that, but it works for me because of my filtration and waterchanging schedule. Altho when I move out of my parents house after I graduate college this spring Im sure a 180-240G will be in theses fishes future.
 
At my aquarium (the Shedd) there are oscars that are at least 20+" long.
 
I dont doubt that for a second. Hell Ive personally raised a pink convict to 8.5" that looked almost like a Midas. Thus why I say that "most" wont obtain that, for whatever reason or another...be it genetics or humans err in keeping them. But alas, Im not here to debate fish sizes, since with any fish larger than a guppy for example pretty much lives in a grow out tank. Its kind of the way of keeping large fish...you upgrade as they need it(granted some dont get this step) so I understand your reasoning.
 
Ummm... you can't just go "add some salt" to your tank to make it BW. 1st, you need to plan on what fish you are going to keep. Almost all BW fish are kept in FW at the shop. Is your tank cycled? After getting your fish, then you can take marine salt & raise the specific gravity .002/week, until you reach your goal SG. Do you have a hydrometer that starts at 1.000?
 
yeah thats true ^^

Just about every lfs keeps them in fresh and try to sell them to you saying they can stay in it. Like said already.... Get you tank started, fresh water. Go to the lfs and see what you like, go home, look them up, ask questions, etc. Then once you have your tank done, and fish in then you can add salt. If ever you get a new fish later down the road, you will want to do the drip method with it, or set up a ten gal like I did with fresh and slowly add the salt till it gets to where the other tank is.

This is a pretty helpful site. http://badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/brackish.html you can also google more about brackish setups
 
LOL, I helped write that article.
 
columbian sharks would be awesome...
 
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