opinions on tank setup and help with choice of next fish!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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Agliata45

Chinchilla
MFK Member
Mar 13, 2011
351
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Hamilton, NJ
Ok, so i purchased a 40 gallon tank off of craigslist about a month ago and let it cycle until last friday ( 3-11-11). On Friday i purchased a juvenile Jack Dempsey around 2 - 2.5 inches and a few guppies for him to eat if wants (I know that they can have potential diseases and stuff but the store owner gave me them free of charge and the tank they were in looked as clean as possible). I also purchased the stress coat a while ago. the tank has 2 airstones and one castle thats also a bubbler, it also has a centerpiece decoration and a tree like thing with a tunnel through and the JD likes to hide in there sometimes. It also has a background. I have a heater and a "whisper dual filter" which seems to get the job done amazingly. also all of this was included with the tank which i got for $125, i know it was the deal of the century! Now for the help with my next fish, and don't tell me that the 40gal is only enough for one fish because i've done my research (which i always do before i purchase any living thing!). I was thinking about picking up either an arrowana or and a fire eel, along with all other accessories i need to suit the accommodations of the three fish. I will at one point purchase both the fire eel and arrowana but i was wondering which one i should purchase first, i can't get both at once. the store i go to has a juvenile fire eel around 4 inches and my JD is more passive then i have read online, though he is very active. So if anyone has any input they can give me i would be thrilled! please respond and give me other ideas of fish to get instead of the arrowana or fire eel (in your opinion) i will take all constructive criticism since i'm relatively new to this hobby. Thanks again!

- Austin
 
an arowana isn't even an option in a tank that small, even the fire eel will outgrow it before you know it. the JD will be ok for a little while but will need a bigger tank too. I'd probably stick to smaller fish in there.
 
Both of those fish get to 3 feet in length. You're already overcrowded with the JD in the 40 gallon. I had one for 4 years that was 13" when he died.
 
Really? well my hatred for fish store owners has rekindled... they told me i could keep 5 parrotfish cichlids in a 40 gallon tank with no problem, i didn't believe that for a second. Do either of you have an idea of what i should put in the tank? i could transfer the JD into a bigger tank once i accumulate some money but fish tanks are extremely expensive. but lets say that the tank was empty, what fish would you put in it??
 
Well that's really up to you. In a tank that small I really wouldn't go with cichlids unless you get very small ones. You could probably do a pretty nice african cichlid tank though. Just depends on what you like man.
 
arowanas are BIG fish man, you shouldn't put an aro into any tank less than 150. you can go with a 75 for the fire eel (which is exactly what i have), but once he gets REALLY big, you'll wanna upgrade. Luckily, fire eels grow very, very slowly. Even a 55 is good enough for a JD, but honestly, with what you are looking at, I wouldnt go lower than a 75. Cut the arowana out of the picture if you aren't getting a 150 or bigger though.
 
I would nix the arowana totally. I own a 220 gallon, and I wouldn't even concider one. You can probley get away with the jd in the 40 for a decent amount of time, but if you don't plan on upgrading in the next year or so I would rehome him and start over. If you want cichlids long term in the 40, then id suggest rams. I love them, very amazing dwarf cichlids. Fairly cheap too. As far as a tank for the fire eel and the jd, I wouldn't go any smaller than 125 gallon. And eventually the eel will get 3ft+, but they are fairly slow growers. In the 125 you could also add 4 or 5 more cichlids. Its really up to you though.
 
Yeah, honestly i didn't do enough research on arrowanas, i didn't realize that got the huge until you told me. I think i might use the 40gal as a growout tank for the JD and a fire eel and save some money for a bigger tank in the meantime. I'm definitely saving up for a 150 - 200 gallon tank though.
 
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