Help with Wolf fish...

[Iafishkeeper]

I am wanting to start keeping wolf fish in particular the common mala. I love fish with character and agression so by reading the countless pages I have, it seems that this is the fish for me. I do have a few questions and you guys are the experienced ones.

Either i purchase a huge 17" black wolf fish from a forum member here and probably only keep the one fish in my 220. I stronly doubt that it would even remotely allow anything else to live in the tank.

or

I purchase several small ones and try to establish a community. I have asked before on keeping tank mates and have received mixed views.
One member told me that he had 20 wolves in 1 190 gallon tank. I don't know how long they were together, perhaps he will chime in. I was thinking (based off his experience) about buying around 8 or so. that way when they grow larger I still have a little elbow room for them. Yes I do want a larger tank eventually too.

I guess I would like some input on your experiences and what would you guys do?

Get 1 big one or a 8 smaller ones. Oh ya by smaller ones i was thinking about buying around 7" ones.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dominator]

I am wanting to start keeping wolf fish in particular the common mala. I love fish with character and agression so by reading the countless pages I have, it seems that this is the fish for me. I do have a few questions and you guys are the experienced ones.

Either i purchase a huge 17" black wolf fish from a forum member here and probably only keep the one fish in my 220. I stronly doubt that it would even remotely allow anything else to live in the tank.

or

I purchase several small ones and try to establish a community. I have asked before on keeping tank mates and have received mixed views.
One member told me that he had 20 wolves in 1 190 gallon tank. I don't know how long they were together, perhaps he will chime in. I was thinking (based off his experience) about buying around 8 or so. that way when they grow larger I still have a little elbow room for them. Yes I do want a larger tank eventually too.

I guess I would like some input on your experiences and what would you guys do?

Get 1 big one or a 8 smaller ones. Oh ya by smaller ones i was thinking about buying around 7" ones.

Thanks in advance.

Keeping more than 12 wolves will cause aggressive, thus, it is not recommended unless you have a really big tank for them. If you buy an adult wolf, they will not tolerate any new tank mates.
I bought my common wolf mala in Shark Aquarium about 3 days ago, they kept 6 malas in a 20 gallon tank, and 2 malas around the same size in another tank(I picked mine from the tank that has 2 wolves), there were no aggression at all, all of them were placid.
They were all around 8", if you want to buy several, i suggest you to take all wolves from one tank, since they've been living together for a while.

 

[Mudfrog]

Baddfish is selling a 16" mala, it's posted over on water wolves.. might shoot him a PM.

 

[Iafishkeeper]

Baddfish is selling a 16" mala, it's posted over on water wolves.. might shoot him a PM.

lol... That is the person I was referring to. I contacted him and he has 1 huge mala for sale.

I just wasn't sure if i wanted only 1 fish in the tank or try and have several others.

Thank you very much for tip thou.

 

[channarox]

i wouldnt get 7" malas and try to keep them together...4" and below,sure.
but 7" no.

 

[Mudfrog]

Keep him alone.. typically they are much more aggressive at that size. I think he kept several together though so you might PM him and ask him his experience. I was going to buy a 14" off of him last year but ended up just growing out the one I have now.

 

[Dominator]

i wouldnt get 7" malas and try to keep them together...4" and below,sure.
but 7" no.

7" malas aren't aggressive at all lol. Imma post up a video of my mala living with my convicts in few minutes.

 

[channarox]

7" malas aren't aggressive at all lol. Imma post up a video of my mala living with my convicts in few minutes.

LOL i meant to each other.
seeing as to how they have not lived with brothers or sisters for quite a while...
still,it could work.

 

[tigerlover2006]

Wolf fish must be kept with other aggressive fishes.

Just bought a 9" Mala. When I tried to fish him from the tank, he attack the net fiercely!

Once I put in with my other monsters, he is just like a good boy!

 

[channarox]

Wolf fish must be kept with other aggressive fishes.

Just bought a 9" Mala. When I tried to fish him from the tank, he attack the net fiercely!

Once I put in with my other monsters, he is just like a good boy!

not if you keep them together when very young.
my malas were with gars,aros etc. etc.
no aggressive fish.