I was in the same boat as you up until about a month or so ago when I finally pulled the trigger on a 5" jardini. First, I housed him alone in a 20 gallon tank..the next week I bought two 5" catfish as a "agression test"....within 20 minutes, both of the catfish had broken backs and were on there way to death. jardini literally kicked the **** out of them to the point he killed them. They were small channel catfish.
so he spent a month in the 20 gallon with his only other tank mate as a 5" bushy nose leco, that he leaves alone.
a week ago, I decided to take a leap and put him in my Fiance's 55 gallon in the kitchen which houses a 12" albino oscar, parrot fish, a convict, pleco, and a 10" water cow and a 10" upside down catfish along with two 8" Jade gobys.
believe it or not, he was "harmless" and didnt show any agression towards any of the fish in the fish tank. He would chase the gobys, and they would chase him...neither would inflict any agression...seemed like it was all in fun.
So then I decided to see how he would act in my 125 gallon with my 20" silver and 3 (10"-18") florida gars. He was scared ****less and so was I as one of my gars was following him like food. My silver would just swim by and kinda stop, check him out and go on his way. This was just a test so I took him out.
Now he lives back in the 20 gallon with the two Jade gobys and a raphael catfish...he hasnt bothered them yet.
The only reason why I didnt keep him in the 55 for now is because he is only 6" and I have a 75 gallon power head in there to keep the water flowing. Its a little strong for the little guy so I will wait about 2" more.
so he spent a month in the 20 gallon with his only other tank mate as a 5" bushy nose leco, that he leaves alone.
a week ago, I decided to take a leap and put him in my Fiance's 55 gallon in the kitchen which houses a 12" albino oscar, parrot fish, a convict, pleco, and a 10" water cow and a 10" upside down catfish along with two 8" Jade gobys.
believe it or not, he was "harmless" and didnt show any agression towards any of the fish in the fish tank. He would chase the gobys, and they would chase him...neither would inflict any agression...seemed like it was all in fun.
So then I decided to see how he would act in my 125 gallon with my 20" silver and 3 (10"-18") florida gars. He was scared ****less and so was I as one of my gars was following him like food. My silver would just swim by and kinda stop, check him out and go on his way. This was just a test so I took him out.
Now he lives back in the 20 gallon with the two Jade gobys and a raphael catfish...he hasnt bothered them yet.
The only reason why I didnt keep him in the 55 for now is because he is only 6" and I have a 75 gallon power head in there to keep the water flowing. Its a little strong for the little guy so I will wait about 2" more.