Rhaph 160g grow out. how long will it last?

[mynheers_a_pint]

Ok, a pair of Rhaph have just become available for a very reasonable price and considering how rare they are in the UK i am very tempted. however, i know that a 160g is not suitable for life (60"x30"x24" (LxWxH)) but what is everyones opinion of how long they will last? I already have 2 tats and a number of Geophagus but seeing as the Gold Wolves just aren't coming up, i am looking for a suitable alternative and these come up...

So my ultimate goal is a 84"x36"x24" (what ever that is in gallons) but i can't do anything for a couple of years until i move out simply because A. I live in a Pub and wouldn't risk a tank of valuable fish with potential morons and B. my current tanks are actually upstairs and whilst i had a structural engineer in to approve it, i wouldn't risk anything bigger than i currently have. I have the 160g AND a 75g in the same room, upstairs.

I know that the tat's are slow growing but are Rhaph the same, and at 4/5" would they be ok in the 160g for a max of 2 years. I'm guessing the tat's won't be a problem with them.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[vamptrev]

ur 160 will work for at least 2 yrs. width is key w rhaphs, and 30" wide is decent. they grow slow like tats, but the tats might pick on the rhaphs as they get older...

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

thanks for that. The Rhaphs are at £35 each and considering the tat's cost 3 times that, i consider it a good price so with that in mind, i might just order them. I have a trio of Chalceus (sp) that seem to receive the brunt of the Tat's anger. Having said that, the Geo's are the cheekiest fish i've ever seen and it is truely histerical watching their shananigans whilst the Tat's chase them.

I did double check and the rhaphs are 4" max. that Tat's are 9 and 10" respectively. Will this be an issue? I don't want to simply feed the Tat's after all! The Smallest Geo's is 4" so i'm hoping it'll be ok but they are silver fish as opposed to Geo coloured.

 

[vamptrev]

thanks for that. The Rhaphs are at £35 each and considering the tat's cost 3 times that, i consider it a good price so with that in mind, i might just order them. I have a trio of Chalceus (sp) that seem to receive the brunt of the Tat's anger. Having said that, the Geo's are the cheekiest fish i've ever seen and it is truely histerical watching their shananigans whilst the Tat's chase them.

I did double check and the rhaphs are 4" max. that Tat's are 9 and 10" respectively. Will this be an issue? I don't want to simply feed the Tat's after all! The Smallest Geo's is 4" so i'm hoping it'll be ok but they are silver fish as opposed to Geo coloured.

size might be a prob. my 6" tat ate an almost 4" bala shark once...

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

balls. As i say, the smallest is a 4" Geophagus Brasiliensis who is quite capable of taking care of herself- male and female and the current pecking order sits them 2nd and 3rd consecutively in the current Cichlid rankings. Fantastically mean for their size.

The Tat's are very definately in charge, however in the overall tank rankings. Comon plec and Bichir falls in just behind them.

I guess the 5 million dollar question is; does anoyone feel it is worth the risk? £70 quid is £70 quid at the end of the day and you can spend that on a few DVD's and an Xbox game. But from a rare and ultimately valuable species point of view, should i risk the loss to simply 'see what happens'?

After all, they have the right to a considerate keeper.

 

[krichardson]

size might be a prob. my 6" tat ate an almost 4" bala shark once...

My first tat was about six inches and it took down a nice sized Apollo shark.