Groupsize for Gnathonemus petersii

[rommer]

Hi,

In my tank i want to keep Gnathonemus petersii. I would love to keep them in a group but there isn't much information to find about the minimum size of such a group. I heard that if you keep 2 of them, one will die. And they say that 8 is the minimum number. But i find 8 too much for in my tank. 4 will be the maximum number i think is okay for my thank. So I'm wondering if there are people having Gnathonemus petersii in a group (or now people who keep them in a group) and how big the group is?

Information about my thank is here to find:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380390

 

[arapaimag]

I have kept a group of Gnathonemus petersii in a 144 gallon tank (545 litres) for more than 3 years.

I had 13 originally but now have 11 left. They are a very social animal so you will need as many as you feel possible in your tank.

I also keep Gnathonemus tamandua, Campylomomyrus alces, Campylomomyrus cassaicus and Campylomomyrus rhynchopterus. I only received these 4 species from Oliver Lucanus (Below Water) a few weeks ago and they are still in 2 quarantine tanks. They appear to be just as social as G. petersii.

 

[rommer]

I have kept a group of Gnathonemus petersii in a 144 gallon tank (545 litres) for more than 3 years.

I had 13 originally but now have 11 left. They are a very social animal so you will need as many as you feel possible in your tank.

I also keep Gnathonemus tamandua, Campylomomyrus alces, Campylomomyrus cassaicus and Campylomomyrus rhynchopterus. I only received these 4 species from Oliver Lucanus (Below Water) a few weeks ago and they are still in 2 quarantine tanks. They appear to be just as social as G. petersii.

Wow, a group of 13 sounds really great. And what an interessting and rare species do you have. If i had a larger tank i would defintelly go for a big group. But now that's impossible. Do you think that 4 wil be enough or will that be trouble? And if that's trouble do you have a suggestion of the minimium number i could keep.

Last question? Are there any pictures/topics about your Gnathonemus petersii and/or your new species on the internet?

 

[Industrial]

I saw a pair of adult G. Petersii (Probably 15"+) at a zoo in Frankfurt, Germany. Of course they were in an exhibit sized tank so they were content. I personally wouldn't recommend trying to school them in a tank any smaller than 6'x18' as juveniles because of their eventual adult size as well as need for very frequent water changes.

 

[olllie]

Hello fellow VVV adict.
I had a G. petersii and he bossed around my Ctenopoma kingsleyaes and BGK's.
Only the two Distichodus sexfasciatus weren't impressed.
I had only one tho. I was to afraid for their violence in a group.

You could try four of them IMO. Your tank is big enough (great tank BTW).
Dont go look me up at home when it doesnt work out for them.

P.S. Males have an arched anal vin.

 

[rommer]

Everybody thanks for helping. But i still don't know what to do. I think i go for one, and look how that works out for me. Or, i ask my lfs if i can buy three and return them if it doesn't work out. But i think i go for option 1.