Scombs in the wild

[Industrial]

I am thinking of maybe getting some scombs after I set up my south american whitewater biotope, but I am not entirely sure about how big they grow in the wild. Searching on google I get results like

or

Are these actually wild scombs or a different hydrolycus payara? I don't want to get any scombs if I don't even know how big they are supposed to grow in the wild.

 

[apriliarider15]

The species that you have pictured is H. armatus. Hydrolycus scomberiods is not commonly fished because of the max size so you won't find many wild pictures of them. At least that is what Paul Reiss at Acute Angling told me.

 

[apriliarider15]

It is a common believe on this forum and others that H. scomberoids grows to 12" and dies. Yet I haven't seen a picture of any 12" "scombs". So I don't think anyone knows the size obtained in the wild.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Shedd aquarium in chicago had a few 14"+ ers in there SA display.

those were the biggest I had ever layed eyes on.

 

[Industrial]

Well seeing that in aquariums they aren't that large I am feeling a bit more confident about their max size. I know a guy who has a large 8x2 aquarium that has a small school of scombs that appear to be 8-12 inches based on the description. I am thinking of leaning towards a couple scombs for my south american whitewater tank.

 

[channarox]

you could also try hydrolycus tatuaia,not as fragile as scombs and get to around 18".
never seen one bigger.