Hey all! Just curious on your opinions and experience on a tank with a wider footprint vs a longer footprint for central’s like synspilum, argentea, etc. Would something like a 6x4 be better than like a 8x2 for a community? Thanks!
Long vs wide tank for centrals
- Thread starter GreenPhantom
- Start date
I personally think that they could both work but I think that a tank in between would be best as you get width and length so I would go with a 7x3
Personally I prefer longer tanks for communities, as it allows you to make more sight breaks and more opportunity for fish to stay out of each others' way. Though some fish would be better in the wider tank, like a Dovii for instance, would need the width. So I think it depends on what kind of fish you want.
I saw saw my last post, and it looks unintelligible, so let me clarify. Although I agree both will work (maybe).
Most cichlids, will defend a territory of about 4 ft X 4ft, so an 8 ft tank offers a bit of extra security. Most cichlids tend to break off a chase at 4 ft, so with an 8ft tank length, that extra 4ft of length offers that extra wiggle room, 6 ft doesn't off quite do as much.
This especially becomes important with hyper aggressive species like argentea, and other territorial Vieja.
I tried to keep argentea in a 6 ft tank, and the alpha male of the tank was the argentea, in 6ft of length he would not let up on any subordinate large cichlid in the tank. Once he determined that individual needed to be vanquished, in the end that meant all other cichlids. And he had to be transferred to a tank to himself to save the others.
I had the same experience with a M regani, I ended up giving it to a friend after it killed a female, who put it in a 250gal, where it hid most of the time, except when it came out to kill a much larger carpintus than itself, and an even larger Amphilophus.
Most cichlids, will defend a territory of about 4 ft X 4ft, so an 8 ft tank offers a bit of extra security. Most cichlids tend to break off a chase at 4 ft, so with an 8ft tank length, that extra 4ft of length offers that extra wiggle room, 6 ft doesn't off quite do as much.
This especially becomes important with hyper aggressive species like argentea, and other territorial Vieja.
I tried to keep argentea in a 6 ft tank, and the alpha male of the tank was the argentea, in 6ft of length he would not let up on any subordinate large cichlid in the tank. Once he determined that individual needed to be vanquished, in the end that meant all other cichlids. And he had to be transferred to a tank to himself to save the others.
I had the same experience with a M regani, I ended up giving it to a friend after it killed a female, who put it in a 250gal, where it hid most of the time, except when it came out to kill a much larger carpintus than itself, and an even larger Amphilophus.
8x2 for reasons already stated. Just know that even a tank that size, from one end to the other is only a couple flips of a tail fin for a large hyper dominant male cichlid.
Great input! Thanks all! I was going to grab a 6x4 but after this and other advice have decided against it. Seems to make a lot of sense that the shape of the tank can mitigate the aggression. I think something like an 8x3 would be ideal. I guess beyond that we’re talking about pond territory.