Strongly considering an ATF - Questions

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davis101

Gambusia
MFK Member
Sep 7, 2009
667
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canada
Well I've never had one before, but I really like the look of them. I've had yellow tail cudas before and I'm assuming they would be a bit similar to keep.

My first question: Can you tell the difference between a vitatus and goliath when they are 3" or so?
There is a "goliath" at my lfs, but I am uncertain whether it is the real deal or not. Either way it doesn't matter to me, it's just nice to know what you are getting yourself into for the future.
*I've read through the identification sticky, but there seems to be a lot of confusion in juveniles.

My second question: Would a 45 bowfront be okay as a grow out tank for a few months? I was considering setting it up, as displayed in the sticky, with 50 times the flow of water (although I would probably even go a little more)

Third Question: with that set up, would it be wise to black out the back and the two ends to prevent the ATF from crashing into the glass?

Fourth Question: I was considering getting a couple red tail cudas, and adding my small bichirs and my small giraffe cat as tank mates. Are those wise choices?

Thanks in Advance!
 
1: its very hard as s juvi to tell the difference, real goliaths are rare, its probably a vatf or fatf, both great fish, very aggressive and very similar to goliaths.
2:yeah the 45 would be fine for a while, but like you said lots of flow and very clean water.
3: yeah black out the sides and back, and if possible put some fake plants at the ends of the tank, this will stop it slamming into the sides.
4:be very careful with tankmates, young tiger fish are fragile. Alot of people have success with silver dollars, and they are a great teacher fish to get the tiger onto pellets. Tigers are a hit or miss fish with tankmates, try to go with peaceful hardy large fish.

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1- It is possible to tell GATF from the other four fairly easily, but telling TATF from VATF and telling FATF from BATF can be very difficult. Post a pic.

2- For a few months. I've had good luck breaking young ATF in a small tank. I actually use a 20 long. If I have my druthers, I refer for my ATF to be over 6" before they go into the 150 growout.

3- Absolutely. Get a moonlight as well. It helps to prevent midnight freakouts.

4- They're fine, but of you're truly dedicated to the health of your ATF, wait until he's 6" or so and broken off of live food. Young tigers are extremely delicate and prone to sudden random deaths. They become quite hardy once established however.

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Okay awesome! Thanks guys. I will try to make it to the lfs to grab a picture today. The cudas are tiny, so it would be a little bit before I would consider adding them anyways. I figured the giraffe and bichirs would help clean up leftovers from pellet training.
 
It would probably be more manageable anyways if it is a vatf or tatf.

Thanks for the insight Quason778! lol
 
Those eyes and jaws look sooo big, he/she is a beast!!! Gatf or not, its a keeper.

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My untrained eye thinks it looks most like tatf/vatf. lol It seems to have the same color scheme as the ones in the sticky. I'm not sure what a juvenile goliath exactly looks like either though.
 
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