Male Nic Dovii in a 180g

[Reaper13]

I know this probably not the first time on this...However would a 180g be good for a big male dovii atleast for a long while. I haven't seen a big male in a 180g-210g as comparison. Would I be good for atleast 4 years with a 4" juv now? I know they grow quick that first year. I looked at a 300g & it's just massive & I've also seen a 24"+ male dovii. Any thoughts? Below is a pic someone sent me of a one in supposedly a 180g

 

[NWatson]

I think they need a larger tank for life first off. I think they are good in a 180 for a while, around 4 yrs depending on many factors. Feeding, water changes, how big he was when you got him, just how fast that one grows. However I do not think even with good water quality a 19" Dovii is in the best conditions in a 180. They do grow very fast for the first year or so then slow down. That is one nice Dovii in that pic! I will say even though they look like they have room in a 180, a larger Dovii, 15" or so can cover that tank side to side in no time, it's really not a lot of room for a fish that size. My 2 cents

 

[fishman09]

I think they need a larger tank for life first off. I think they are good in a 180 for a while, around 4 yrs depending on many factors. Feeding, water changes, how big he was when you got him, just how fast that one grows. However I do not think even with good water quality a 19" Dovii is in the best conditions in a 180. They do grow very fast for the first year or so then slow down. That is one nice Dovii in that pic! I will say even though they look like they have room in a 180, a larger Dovii, 15" or so can cover that tank side to side in no time, it's really not a lot of room for a fish that size. My 2 cents

+1

Looks like Rec's old male. Where have you seen a 24"+ male?


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[terd ferguson]

I think a female would be fine in a 180g for a very long time. I'd want AT LEAST a 240g for a male. Sometimes I feel like my 400g is too small for a big male.

 

[Reaper13]

Yeah I was planning on doing a 300g at about 14" so I'll stick with that. All my fish usually grow fast...people around here shack their head about my wc's, but I do 2-3 50-75% per week or atleast down to the back of my fish if it's bigger.

My buddy in mobile has a 400g with a 24"+ male and a 12" female. Thats where I got mine from....He has plenty of room to make a charge in that 400

 

[fishman09]

Gallonage is not as important IMO as footprint. A 180 and standard 240 have the same width so not truly gaining much in that regard. Going wider is more important than just getting more gallons. I would prefer a 6'x3'x2' 270 Than an 8'x24"x30"h 300 for example.

With doing so many water changes on a large tank i suggest looking into a drip system changer to alleviate some hard work. Was doing similar water changes myself and since installing a drip system its been easier on me and the fish and i get to change tons of water.

 

[jweav]

Years ago I kept and breed Dovii in a 180 for almost 15 years straight. The two males that kept both lived to just over 11years and were just under 18 inches at their biggest. Most people want Dovii because they are highly aggressive and it is funny that is the exact reason they get rid of it a few years later. That is where I think the bigger problem lies and that is long term care and the fact that most people are not going to keep that fish its whole life so whether you are going to get a 300 gallon tank down the road becomes pointless. That is one of the many reason you do not see many Dovii over 17 inches even on MFK because people end up getting rid of them at a locale petshop at say 12 inches and end up in an even smaller tank and dying a premature death. Do I think a 180 is the ideal size tank for a mature Dovii the answer is no bigger is always better no matter what species fish you are keeping. With that being said I do think that a Dovii that is provided a 180 for life by a person who is going to do huge water changes every week and provide it with quality food is a lucky fish indeed.