Golden Dorado (Salminus maxilaris)?

[pacu22]

I am considering picking up a shoal of 3 or 4 dorados at about 3".
Questions:
1) How many for a good shoal?
2) How fast do these guys grow?
3) When does growth slow?
4) Can I eventually house them with cichla?
5) Any other information or experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

 

[pacu22]

I know somebody has to have kept them...

 

[peewee]

how big is your tank? they grow pretty big...i've seen them together with cichla with no problem

 

[pacu22]

how big is your tank? they grow pretty big...i've seen them together with cichla with no problem

What kind of growth rate am I looking at?

 

[krichardson]

What kind of growth rate am I looking at?

That depends on what you plan to feed them.If you get them on flakes and pellets they will have slower growth butraw shrimp and fish meat will boost their rate.Someone asked already what size tank they will be going in and that is an important question because these fish are hyper active,they can grow to a few feet in length and will be more aggressive if cramped. You would need at least three or four for a shoal.I started with two but they fought constantly and am down to one and that's going to be it for me.

 

[pacu22]

That depends on what you plan to feed them.If you get them on flakes and pellets they will have slower growth butraw shrimp and fish meat will boost their rate.Someone asked already what size tank they will be going in and that is an important question because these fish are hyper active,they can grow to a few feet in length and will be more aggressive if cramped. You would need at least three or four for a shoal.I started with two but they fought constantly and am down to one and that's going to be it for me.

My other fish eat raw shrimp and tilapia, so eventually the dorado will also. Is there a point when their growth slows? As for tank size, I have a 210 (72"L x 24"W x 30"H) but I plan on upgrading in a year or two to a 900 (120"L x 48"W x 36"H).

 

[krichardson]

My other fish eat raw shrimp and tilapia, so eventually the dorado will also. Is there a point when their growth slows? As for tank size, I have a 210 (72"L x 24"W x 30"H) but I plan on upgrading in a year or two to a 900 (120"L x 48"W x 36"H).

Not sure about when their growth slows.The 210 will do well as a growing tank untill you get the 900.The smaller they are when you get them the cheaper they usually are.

 

[pacu22]

Not sure about when their growth slows.The 210 will do well as a growing tank untill you get the 900.The smaller they are when you get them the cheaper they usually are.

Rapps has some 3-3.5" for $35 and 4-4.5" for $45, but the shipping is the killer. I am still thinking about it, and I am getting to see what I am getting myself into.

 

[krichardson]

Rapps has some 3-3.5" for $35 and 4-4.5" for $45, but the shipping is the killer. I am still thinking about it, and I am getting to see what I am getting myself into.

Thats where I got mine from almost a year ago,the smaller ones.Yeah,think it over and decide on it.If you like active fish then you cant go wrong with these guys and it sounds like you will be able to provide a nice home to a small group of them.

 

[pacu22]

Thats where I got mine from almost a year ago,the smaller ones.Yeah,think it over and decide on it.If you like active fish then you cant go wrong with these guys and it sounds like you will be able to provide a nice home to a small group of them.

Have you had them with tankmates? I want to put them with similar sized pbass. And I'm totally stoked to have active fish.