Midevil tank size

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
C

cjam93

Gambusia
MFK Member
Sep 20, 2015
182
3
18
33
Hey guys so I recently bought a midevil from a lfs. Anyways for an adult one what is the minimum tank size he should be in? Online I have seen everything from a 55 to a 125. I know the 55 is much to small, but I was wondering if a 75 would be ok?

Also depending on the temperment of the fish, could you possibly have one with 1 or 2 tankmates in a 120? A friend of mine has a 120g that he is now thinking about putting a midevil in after hearing about how much I like mine, but I wasnt sure if that tank size allowed for other fish or not. He has a Jag that is 4inchs give or take and he wants to get a midevil around the same size and let them grow up together in the 120. Do you think this would work out if they start off with each other and grow up together? Btw the 120 is 5ft long.
 
Your friend will probably loose his jag, they grow much slower and as with any aggressive cichlids you need a group of around 6 if your not doing a pair to disperse aggression, 2 cichlids if male will end up as 1, if one of them is a different sex then they could possibly pair off but it's unlikely.
I've kept several midevils and other cichlids at 13-14 inch in my 300g and occasionally due to aggression I have removed one to my 4ft 100g and it looked far too small for them to show the behaviour you get in a larger tank... They look cramped.
I would say a 5ft 120g minimum but a 6ft tank would be better.
 
I downsized my male midas from a 6ft 125 to a 4ft 90 a couple years ago, and honestly haven't noticed any huge difference in behavior. A lot will depend on the individual behavior of each individual fish, if they were raised in a comm tank, or by themselves. Mine started out with company, until one day he decided to kill all of his childhood friends. Bigger is always better, but if flying solo a 75 will suffice.

And for those that feel a 10ft tank is required for a single cit/lab cross, please keep in mind that most of these fish are sold for next to nothing, and end up in a 55 gallon (or smaller) for life. Things could be far worse than living in a well taken care of 75 gallon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Manu8__too
Thanks for the replies guys. In the case of my friend wanting to put them together, if he did it with dithers and maybe another cichlid in the mix would that work out to spread the aggression you think or still end up as one cichlid?
 
Most wouldnt feel comfortable with a 14 inch fish in a 75 but everyone has their own opinion.
ehh ehh
I agree that many end up worse off.

And lol, who said a 10ft tank, my opinion here is just as valid as yours if not more so with regards to midevil. Extra length will be much appreciated.

Off course we are talking 3 years to get that big, 10 inch year 1, 12 inch year 2, then 13-14 year 3. Some bigger.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't bother tbh, the midevil will likely take out any fish thank is equal size and a threat. If he wants tank mates I would suggest convicts, a group of around 6 with plenty of hiding places.

Unless you have a male jag and female midevil, then you may have a chance.
 
75G = Good. 90G = Better. 125G = Best. Bottom line, as long as it's at least a 75G the fish should be fine (assuming all other factors are in line).
 
  • Like
Reactions: triz316
I wasn't referring to you Justin with regards to 10ft tanks, it was simply a preemptive strike for the overly anal. lol I have also kept midevils, and never had one reach 14", although it is certainly possible. Also, in nature, these fish tend to stay smaller than the overfed fatties often seen in home aquaria.

Then again people can update years down the road if need be, right? No one needs to start off with a 6 ft tank for a juvie fish that will take years to get over 12".

Personally I would not mix with other species in a tank the size of your friends.
 
Lol, it's been a long day excuse me!-)

I've had couple closer to 14 inch than 13 inch. I had just edited my post to include some sort of growth guide.
Yeah off course, ehh keeps saying he is in need of an upgrade for his big lump of a midevil in a 75g hence my reasoning.
We do all get a little hung up on max sizes when suggesting tank size admittedly but we generally have no clue if we are advising a 10 yr old with no option to upgrade or a adult in full time work...

To be honest I'm getting myself in a very similar position with the dd 300g and a dovii atm so although I'm trying to give good advice if my Dovii hits 2ft it Will be more or less a perfect equivalent of a 13-14 inch midevil in a 75g...
 
I kept a midevil solo in a 90 for years no probs. Basically a 75 tall. But of course bigger is better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom