Tank upgrade size recommendations

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Researching more in MFK on polleni groups/pairs and I think I'd be better off with a single fish to minimize aggression.... ?

One would more than likely be fine, there is always the off chance that you'll get a hyper aggressive one. But if you go to the wet spot take a few minutes to see how the fish are acting. If you see one acting really dominant, and that's not something you want, then obviously don't get that fish.

Females can be as aggressive as the males, but fortunately are also as beautiful.

 

[magpie]

I have never kept Ctenopoma so I really don't know. Could be a problem if they just hang out at the top of the tank, that's where my Polleni hangs out 99% of the time. Oh and I forgot to mention earlier that you'd be awfully hard pressed to find a wild caught Polleni, as they're endangered in Madagascar. I would argue 99% of Polleni available are captive bred.

OK, I had thought that they were CB! I just wasn't positive.

My Cteno hangs out at all areas of the tank. If I had to choose one area, I'd say mostly middle to lower. He just prowls for food at all areas. He does hang out at the top in the floating plants every once in a while trying to act like a leaf in order to catch the remaining 4 rummynose that I couldn't catch myself.

Thanks for the info, and good point on watching the fish in advance. That's another reason why it's nice to have a place to buy them in person.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

I know it's in the future for you but I hope you get to get some Polleni's. I enjoy mine so much that I've taken it upon myself to recommend them to anyone that will listen. I have three at the moment with some South Americans and they're wonderful fish.

 

[magpie]

How many bichirs could one keep in a 125 gallon tank?
What about a 180?

Assuming you have other fish in there.

 

[magpie]

I know it's in the future for you but I hope you get to get some Polleni's. I enjoy mine so much that I've taken it upon myself to recommend them to anyone that will listen. I have three at the moment with some South Americans and they're wonderful fish.

Polleni are kind of my 'dream' fish at the moment, so it's just a matter of having a bigger tank for them. If I knew I could get away with having one grow out in my current setup, I would have one now! So it will happen, now that I've got confirmation that they might work with bichirs in particular. Like I said, the other fish in the equation are less important to me, although I am rather attached to Checkers.

I feel like everyone on here that owns them raves about them! I love that they have personality, are gorgeous, and can work in a planted tank and with other fish. It's hard to find that combination.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

If you're going to spend money on a tank and have a choice between a 125 and a 180 you've got to go with the 180 all day. Not just because it's more gallons but that 6 extra inches of width makes a really big difference. That's what she said.

 

[magpie]

I totally agree! It's just hard for me to make the call now, not knowing the house we'll be in. So I'm trying to plan for both. I'd love to have a 180 or 220 gallon.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Kudos to you for not just spontaneously buying the fish and giving it a crappy home too btw.

 

[Hendre]

Their tank is 70 gallons. I might get more knives and hiding spots, as well as a ctenopoma or 2 with butterflies for the more upper water.

Are you deciding between polleni and african fish?

From what i have seen polleni are hyper aggressive, wiping out full size acaras and almost a Jag X Dovii in a teachers personal tank

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Their tank is 70 gallons. I might get more knives and hiding spots, as well as a ctenopoma or 2 with butterflies for the more upper water.

Are you deciding between polleni and african fish?

From what i have seen polleni are hyper aggressive, wiping out full size acaras and almost a Jag X Dovii in a teachers personal tank

That's not true. They're more like Oscars than anything.