tank size vs fish size

[Ruturaj]

Just a arbitrary question, wanted to get opinions on tank size

What is minimum tank size for a single cichlid, like midas or vieja or red devil or flowerhorn, would you get that's adult (won't grow anymore) at

1. 8-9 inches
2. 10-12 inches
3. 13-14 inches

I think a 8-9 inch fish can do okay in 40b or 55, for 10-12 inch fish a 75 and 14 inch fish 120 or 125.

 

[fishhead0103666]

I may not be the intended audience as I have neither kept the fish above or care to keep them except for the flower horn although I do have my 8”-9” green severum and I feel as though for his activity level a 75 has the smallest foot print I would feet comfortable putting him in. If he were 12 inches then I feel as though a 4 foot length might be suitable but the width would have to be bumped up to 24” to accommodate him. For a 14” fish I would have to raise the length to either a 5’ tank or a 6’ tank with the 24” width to feel as though I have given him an appropriate size tank.

That’s just my $0.01 though

 

[Ruturaj]

I may not be the intended audience as I have neither kept the fish above or care to keep them except for the flower horn although I do have my 8”-9” green severum and I feel as though for his activity level a 75 has the smallest foot print I would feet comfortable putting him in. If he were 12 inches then I feel as though a 4 foot length might be suitable but the width would have to be bumped up to 24” to accommodate him. For a 14” fish I would have to raise the length to either a 5’ tank or a 6’ tank with the 24” width to feel as though I have given him an appropriate size tank.

That’s just my $0.01 though

Hey, thank you for input, much appreciated. Severums are definitely relatable.

 

[tiger15]

The width of the tank determines the max size of a fish that can fit in. For large cichlid like Midas or FW that max out at 15 inch, a 18" wide 75 is minimum. For Green Terror that maxes out at 10 inch, a 12" wide 55 is minimum. But you also have to consider the personality of the fish to keep solo. A single Jack Dempsey, Frontosa or Vieja is a bad choice because they are very skittish fish kept solo. You need a fish that has attitude and bond with the owner.

 

[Backfromthedead]

I think the standard 75 is a solid minimum size footprint and volume for keeping a single larger cichlid like youre suggesting. Anything less should be just a temporary situation or growout.

Of course bigger is always better. A 6' 125 or 180 is probably the ideal size.

 

[ad88]

1. 75 gallon
2. 125 gallon
3. 125 +

I have a 5" total length blood Parrot in a 6 ft 125 gallon and he attacks me every time I reach my hands in the tank. I gravel vac half of the tank each water change alternating each half every week and even when I am gravel vacuuming the opposite end away from his clay pot he comes racing over to bite me. His behavior in this 6 ft tank tells me that our fish's territories can be a lot larger than we believe and that more is always better!

 

[duanes]

Here is a link
Responsible (Central American) Cichlid Keeping

 

[Ruturaj]

The width of the tank determines the max size of a fish that can fit in. For large cichlid like Midas or FW that max out at 15 inch, a 18" wide 75 is minimum. For Green Terror that maxes out at 10 inch, a 12" wide 55 is minimum. But you also have to consider the personality of the fish to keep solo. A single Jack Dempsey, Frontosa or Vieja is a bad choice because they are very skittish fish kept solo. You need a fish that has attitude and bond with the owner.

Thank you for the inputs. Yes, I had similar fish in mind (a fish that has attitude and bond with the owner).

I think the standard 75 is a solid minimum size footprint and volume for keeping a single larger cichlid like youre suggesting. Anything less should be just a temporary situation or growout.

Of course bigger is always better. A 6' 125 or 180 is probably the ideal size.

Thank you for you input. Tank sizes gets huge after 75 when trying to increase any dimension, would love to have 180 for sure though.

1. 75 gallon
2. 125 gallon
3. 125 +

I have a 5" total length blood Parrot in a 6 ft 125 gallon and he attacks me every time I reach my hands in the tank. I gravel vac half of the tank each water change alternating each half every week and even when I am gravel vacuuming the opposite end away from his clay pot he comes racing over to bite me. His behavior in this 6 ft tank tells me that our fish's territories can be a lot larger than we believe and that more is always better!

Thank you for your input. He really sounds aggressive. He is for sure getting some nice space to enjoy, does he have any tankmates?

Here is a link
Responsible (Central American) Cichlid Keeping

Thank you duanes I just joined the group. Would go through posts soon.

 

[ad88]

Yeah he currently shares his tank with an aggressive African catfish Synodontis Angelicus.

 

[Jexnell]

1 75 "18inx4ft"
2 125 "18inx6ft"
3 240 "2ftx6ft"