Monster Characins? How does this happen?

[David K. Bradley]

Eleven years ago in my home town, I was in the search of a Monster Aquarium. During my search, I happen to come across a Aquatic retailer who had a privately owned tank with about 10 monster sized Congo Tetra's (Micralestes interruptus). On the average, from my own personal knowledge and experience, these Characins males get to be 3" to 3-1/2" long at adult size and females get to be 2" to 2-1/2" at adult size.

The Aquatic retailer told me he had raised these monster sized Congo Tetras from infancy and what really surprized me was at the time I had actually seen these Congo Tetras, they were 9" and 10" long. They schooled together and was kept in a 200 gallon species tank. The retailer's private collection.

Is this really possible to do with Caracins? If so, how is it done? Has anyone achieved similar results with other species of fish? I am curious to find answers to these questions. If anyone has any plausable remarks or ideas, I'd be interested as what your responses would be. Thank you.

 

[Red Devil]

i am looking forward to this thread... i am going to learn something new... i love these big tetras....

 

[Cerbios]

I have no where near enough experience to answer that question fully, but I think it would have to be a matter of doing everything right, perfect diet, tank, tank mates, meds, where you got them from in the first place, ect and not one secret technique.

I know from my days as a Piranha keeper that most piranha appear to be slow growers but this is often because they are wild caught and contain internal parasites. A good anti-parasite treatment and your Rhoms growth-rate usually increases a great deal. Other chacarins may share this problem. Obviously you'd want a big tank much larger then minimum requirements so as to prevent any stunting.

As for whether you can get Congo's that big. I got no clue never kept them. But I'd like to see someone raise a school of 10" Exodons - that would make me happy for a long time.