Logistics of growing out?

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Buphy

Buphy

Dovii
MFK Member
Jun 10, 2015
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So I was thinking about it and how do fish growing out in one tank move to the next? This may seem like a stupid question but I'll explain with an example of what I hope to have in the future. So right now I have a 37 and 55 gallon with a total of 5 fish between them. The hope/plan is to get either a 75 or 125 gallon next (depending on where we move next). When this happens the 3 fish in the 55 (JD, EBJD and Polleni) will move up and the 2 in the 37 (currently very small chocolate and red severum) will move to the 55. So that all makes sense since they were all already tank mates, but what if I get a 125 and want to add more fish but can't find a 8" GT or Lyonsi? logically get the smaller ones and "grow them out". So start them in the 37 or 55 till they are too large/aggressive then move them to the 125? I've heard an interesting theory that re-arranging a tank isn't enough because the fish use the furniture in the room as reference points and this doesn't do enough to fully reset territories.

Sorry for rambling, still new to the advanced side of this hobby and always hungry for new information.
 
Because cichlids are all territorial to one degree or the other, I find it best not to add fish piece meal to a tank. The new addition will always be at a disadvantage, either temporarily (if it is robust enough), or always (the later creating enough stress to at times do it in).
Of course there are exceptions, but its a gamble.
If you have a tank up and waiting, and a must have new fish comes along (and after quarantine), that's the time to move them all the larger tank.
Or the other option is to have at least 20 tanks up and running, and why there are fishrooms. I prefer groups of only 1 or 2 species to a tank (with dithers), in a tank large enough to hold a number of fish. Or in the case of large, intolerant, very territorial fish only 1 pair per tank.
An example would be my Astatheros rostratum/Chuco intermedia tank, where there are 6 rostratum, and 5 intermedia. The tank has been set up for at least 2 years, with "no changes", and continues to work well. I also try to keep fish together, of different genera, a different appearance, with different feeding strategies, and needs.


I had a tank with 4 Paratilapia, and 4 bocourti, that had been working well until I removed the bocourti. As soon as the bocourti were removed, the male Paratilapia killed all but 1 female

 
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lol reckon you've asked the same question in about 300,000 different varietys lately hahahahahaha
 
Benno87 said:
lol reckon you've asked the same question in about 300,000 different varietys lately hahahahahaha
Click to expand...

Umm... I'm guessing you have me confused with some one else because I've never made a thread asking for details on how to effectively use grow outs...
 
Maintaining an outdoor tub has made my life easier in regards to growing out fish. I dump fish in when temps get high enough, then pull them out at the end of summer/beginning of fall. Typically the fish gain weight and size faster outdoors than inside. So if you buy yourself a new fish at the start of summer, you would have a few months of grow out. Maybe longer in your climate.

Edit to add:
I like the 300g Rubbermaid stock tanks. You can stick them out of sight, throw in some floating plants and call it finished. Once winter comes, drain and flip them upside down to keep out water. Low maintenance "tubbin". I use bird netting over mine now. This summer, I had a squirrel visit and found him sleeping with my fishes...
 
Buphy said:
So I was thinking about it and how do fish growing out in one tank move to the next? This may seem like a stupid question but I'll explain with an example of what I hope to have in the future. So right now I have a 37 and 55 gallon with a total of 5 fish between them. The hope/plan is to get either a 75 or 125 gallon next (depending on where we move next). When this happens the 3 fish in the 55 (JD, EBJD and Polleni) will move up and the 2 in the 37 (currently very small chocolate and red severum) will move to the 55. So that all makes sense since they were all already tank mates, but what if I get a 125 and want to add more fish but can't find a 8" GT or Lyonsi? logically get the smaller ones and "grow them out". So start them in the 37 or 55 till they are too large/aggressive then move them to the 125? I've heard an interesting theory that re-arranging a tank isn't enough because the fish use the furniture in the room as reference points and this doesn't do enough to fully reset territories.

Sorry for rambling, still new to the advanced side of this hobby and always hungry for new information.
Click to expand...


Im nowhere near as experienced as some of the members that have already chimed in but this is my take on keeping large cichlids together in a comm.......its a headache. I tried to use my 150 as a community and had to rehome more fish than i would have liked (a.orbicularis, a. Metea, hrps, l600 pleco and a tons of dithers) a 150 is kind of small compared to the sized tanks other members have so that may be the main reason. Changing the decor never worked, removing the aggressor for a few weeks never worked, removing the non dominant fish to treat for illness in qt made things worse for a while. Now i have a pearsei and heterospilus that sort of get along...the het still gets bullied and both were in the tank since they were 2ish inches. It seems like once a fish matures bam the drama starts. What has worked is keeping non cichlids with cichlids. I am planning on upgrading between 180 and 210 gals and probably will not add any more cichlids. They lok small now but your 125 gal and my 150 are just drops in a bucket for these fish....i say leave it be or start the stock over any new fish or existing fish can be at a disadvantage at some point.


Edit : i wanna add there is nothing wrong with trying too nothing beats learning from first hand experience and it might work out
 
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Ya, the 2 fish I mentioned (the GT and Lyonsi) are the only 2 aggressive "community" fish I'd still like to add. Every other fish I want is either a solo or duo tank fish or much much less aggressive. (Discus, severums and chocolate. Not all in the same tank).
 
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