GT growout question / 75+ stocking

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nugpuffer

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 21, 2009
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Raleigh, NC
I currently have a 35 gallon hex which I plan on upgrading to a 75-100 gallon tank within about 3 months. The 35 is somewhat over filtered in preparation for the upgrade with a Proclear Aquatics 75 W/D and a Marineland HOT Magnum canister (I will likely also upsize the canister with the tank upgrade).

I was wondering what time frame I am looking at for a GT to grow out of the 35 if I buy it relatively small (2-3"). The current occupants of the tank are 3 large feeders which have been in there for 2 months (will be removed), a 3" pictus cat, and some snails.

Also, I am looking for stocking ideas for the 75.

Personally I was thinking:
1 male GT
2 convicts
2 pictus cats (or 1 pictus cat and 1 pleco)
and a school of giant danios as dithers
 
What are the dimensions of the tank? I'm thinking either way that you'll want to completely minimize the amount of time that the GT spends in there.
 
Tank Dimensions: 24" high, 11.5" side length , roughly 23" max width

I suppose I could wait until the upgrade before getting the GT, I just heard that they are slow growers so getting it now would allow it to grow out some before putting it in the 75.

Note that there is quite a strong current in the tank if that helps.
 
nugpuffer;3041733; said:
Tank Dimensions: 24" high, 11.5" side length , roughly 23" max width

I suppose I could wait until the upgrade before getting the GT, I just heard that they are slow growers so getting it now would allow it to grow out some before putting it in the 75.

Note that there is quite a strong current in the tank if that helps.
Click to expand...


I've got 3 1" juvies in a 10gallon right now before I move them to the 29gallon to grow out to about 3" at which time I'll take the best looking male (if any at that point) and move him to the 75g to pair up with the female GT I have. Pair of GT and pair of escondido... asking for trouble I'm sure but if I can get it to work, I'm gonna try. If it doesn't, just gives me an excuse to convince my wife to let me get another tank ;)
 
In my opinion, it is best to grow fish out in larger tanks as opposed to stepping them up from small to medium to large... But this is my preference, not a 'right or wrong' thing...

The risk we take when growing them out in smaller tanks is water quality suffering when they are on the large side for a tank. Some people do not believe that a small tank will stunt the growth of Cichlids yet others believe it can... it is generally accepted by all that poor water quality can/will stunt the growth of fish...

Based on personal experience, I find that growing Cichlids out in larger tanks promotes faster growth, although I am not suggesting that faster growth equals a healthier fish... Maintaining high water quality is obviously the right track and compromising this will compromise the fish regardless of tank size.

Beyond that view... Life often gets in the way of our plans taking place. It would be a shame if you got the fish then something happened and prevented you from being able to get the larger tank that they need. So based on this idea I would suggest waiting until you get the 75+ gal before you get the GT...
 
Thanks for the replies.

Honestly, the only reason I am waiting to get the larger tank is because I am moving in a month or so and would rather move the smaller tank. I will probably just wait until just before the upgrade to get the GT. I may go ahead and add 2 more pictus cats (since they like groups) and the giant danios to keep my current tank interesting.

Another question since I am finding a lot of conflicting info on the subject:

Should I skip the convicts and go with something else, or will they be alright with a single GT in a 75g?
 
I don't see a reason not to throw the extra Pictus & Danios into the current tank...

Convicts become aggressive / potentiall abusive at a much younger age than GTs... therefore if you add a young (2~3") GT in with two young (2") Convicts... it is likely the GT will get abused...

But, adult GTs can be pretty tough fish... and I would not hesitate to put a healthy adult male GT in a 75 Gal with a breeding pair, or two female, Convicts... I would avoid putting two male Convits in the 75 Gal as they are likely to not get along with each other...

It would require a real show of patience... Wait until after the move and set up the 75 Gal... promptly add the stock from your 35 gal (and the filters too)... add the GT a week or so later... Enjoy watching the GT grow for a few months...

Then evaluate your GT. If it appears to be a nice big strong helathy male, add a pair of Convicts... if it is anything less add two female Convicts, or possibly even consider a less aggressive species such as Firemouthes...

As each individual specimen can vary considerably in size, attitude, aggression, etc... it is hard to give blanket advice of what "should" work...
 
I personally do 50% water changes on all the tanks every 4 days currently (was every 5 days but since I've stepped up the feeding regiments it's required at least 1-2 extra water changes a month).

Like toby said, water quality is a huge factor in how well your fish grows. if I could, I'd put them in the 75gallon now but with the current aggression of the other fish (namely the adult female GT and my largest female escondido - these 2 girls go at it like they were fighting over the same boy at prom.), they'd be killed in seconds. They need to size up some and I need to decide which escondido's I'm gettin rid of before I can rescape the tank and introduce these younger GT's.


Why do you want convicts would be the first question I'd ask to decide on a suitable answer ;p
 
Be very sure you are getting that tank before you get the fish! I had an oscar and a JD in a 20 gal to let them grow before I got my 75. I got the whole setup except the stand for free. I bought a new more powerfull filter and asked my father to build a stand so I could save money. That tank sat empty 4 extra months because of the hoildays and other circumstances that prevented the building of the stand. I ran an extra filter and preformed daily 25% water changes to keep that small tank safe. My fish are now happy in their new home but it was rough going for awhile I thought I would never get that thing set up.
 
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