Project 250 gallon

[Madou]

Hey guys,

I did not think I would post my project in the SH forums, but as I read some new posts, as I do every day, I considered something new that I did not think possible.

I have the project of having a 250 gallon tank built... Wait a minute, Americans can't have Channas, so let's use metrics.

1125 litres
250 cm long
75 cm wide
60 cm high

In this, I want:
- 4 to 5 Hepsetus Odoe
- 1 to 3 Cichla Kelberi (unless I can find azuls)
- 1 Brachyplastisoma Juruense OR Potamotrygon Hystrix/Obisomething

And the last fish I wanted was one of the different arowanas. With the price of Asians and blacks, the aggressiveness of Jardinis, the size of Silvers, and the rarity of Leis, I still haven't made my choice.

And then, I come upon that amazing tank in another thread, that has a Maruloides in a community?!

Would a Maruloides be alright with the current stock plans?

Is the pattern alright? It seems on the shortish side, as far as width is concerned, but is still 10 cm wider than max size for the fish.

I know Odoes do best in planted setups, Cichlas probably don't mind too much as long as it's not in their way, so I could have the hiding necessary for any Channa.

Any input is greatly appreciated, given the choice of fish I made, I'd hate to lose any of them, at all.

Thank you!

Edit: Dammit, I forgot UK don't use metrics and have access to Channas.
Therefore:
250 Gallons
8.2' x 2.5' x 2'

 

[StiffMeister]

I have some experience with a group of Odoes and would not recommend them. They are just too skittish. Had them from babies to around 20cm. At that point i simply couldnt like them anymore. Every move i made had them knocking against the glass and flying through the tank.
Ive traded them against baby Pleuros. Best choice ever ;-)

 

[Madou]

Yeah, I want pleuros, but they are hard to come by, and we are still unsure about their usual behavior in group at a bigger size. Not to mention, I would have no problem separating a pair of Odoe. A pair of Channas, I am not so sure, I like the fishes too much.

But the question is not really about whether I should go Odoes, because I will (Unless I am told I can have any type of ATF in those dimensions, which I highly doubt). And the cover I plan for them should make them much less skittish, especially in a group and with no other aggressive fish.

The question is: Can a Maruloides fit this tank for life with these fishes as tank mates?

 

[-DC-]

My guess is that it will go okfirseversl years then one day the channa wills so and kill everything lol!

I would not mix any of the Asian aro's with that mix. Asians are indredibly agressive when mature , it'll likely pick fights with the snakehead and everything else when it hits a few years old. It'll also likely chase the more flighty bass into walls/kill them.

My RTG did fine in a 240g community until roughly 16" then went insane killed everything and anything I've tried to keep with since that point . South American aro's (silvers & blacks) are known to be much more docile , if you were going to try your mix it would be much more successful with one of those 2.

I've seen lots of monster mixes with emperor snakeheads but I know of very few that lasted for more then a couple years . But this is often true of most monster fish mixes , predetory fish kill fish so any mix is a gamble.

 

[Madou]

As always, Devon, your input is taken into consideration. I have yet to meet anyone more knowledgeable about sneakheads in general.

I have absolutely no knowledge of Maruloides, but it seems to me that he's just another Channa, gentle at first, then everything becomes a potential snack ;D I guess it's one of the reason we like them so much. Apex predator for the win, with incredible personality!

I can try to find myself a black, I just hate the idea of drop eye... I know it goes for silvers, but I assume it does for black too... It turns out after looking it up that they have as much chance to have drop eye than silvers to NOT have it... And they get lightly smaller... Might be the go to fish! I cannot have a tank without a long, slender fish. Even my baby tank has a Ery ery, which sort of fits these criterias.

Now to wait for the money and actually do it. I think with all the elements I gathered through Characin, Cichla, Catfish and Channa forums, I have everything figured out. It should be a well rounded mix with pecking order but no real aggression, save for a pair forming out of 3 cichlas (very unlikely) or 5 odoes (More likely, but still unlikely). Both of which would be sorted with a very nice fish to sell!

If anyone feels like chiming in for opinions or suggestions, I'd more than welcome them.

 

[-DC-]

I'm a big believer that drop eye is due to poor diet. Avoid over feeding and avoid any mammalian meat in their diet altogether and i doubt very much you'll have any issues with drop eye.

I think the biggest issue with silvers is that people pump the food to them for rapid growth which makes them more prone to defects and more sensitive to poor diet due to the rapid growth. Them being cheap doesn't help either as they often end up in the hands of people who can't afford proper care and/or haven't done proper research so they wind up in poor living conditions on a poor diet and/or are fed mammalian meat to save money and boost up growth etc.

As for emperor In the mix ive honestly debated trying it many time if I were going to try it I'd probably go with a silver both because of the size making it less of a target but also because if things go bad it's the cheaper investment lol. At one point I was even going to try with my Asian but I know my RTG would kill the channa just like he's killed everything else lol (,including 6 bass btw who ranged from 9-14") Believe it or not In the mix you mentioned it's the Asian aro that I'd be most worried about not the channa lol

 

[moe214]

I don't know very much about snakeheads. But as for the other fish you mention I'd say go with the black aro, odoe, and juruense, let them grow some, then grow some bass out cause they'll catch up due to a faster growth rate. And then a sh. But then again I agree with the above statement where the silver may have a better chance due to its larger size, and they're also known for being more aggressive compared to blacks which are known as the most peaceful aro with specimens even being kept with discus. Also black look nicer imo. If it were me I'd do the jur, odoe, and black, and I can't own a sh, but in your situation, I'd pick a nice sh that can live with these fish, I don't know much, but I do know there are many, beautiful, species of snakeheads.

 

[Madou]

I honestly want to scream "Jardini" when you describe your RTG, that's how bad it is Devon

Just to make it clear, there is no talk of mixing channa and aro, it's either or!

In my opinion, every single SH is beautiful, i have yet to see one i don't like. Micropeltes makes me want to buy a pool because just like i eventually want an arapaima, i want a micro one day.

Are there many you can mix? I have tried a few, and they all now have their species tank, or have been rehoused. Fading colour is the best case scenario, hiding and looking miserable being the second "best"...

But since i had no idea about the emperor and have never owned any of the big ones, i figured I would ask! The only SH that i still consider comm worthy is a single Pleuro, but i honestly don't think he would fit this mix. Not to mention I am on waiting list since early 2014 and none of my vendors came back to me, save for those 2 small specimens that didn't make it out the bag.

Black > silver seem to be the best bet it seems