tankmates for a dovii

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Taboojen

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2005
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Calif.
out of curiosity... has anyone sucessfully kept any other fishes with a dovii? I know they require large tanks of at least 180+ when they are adults, as they can grow to be quite big. I currently have a 2 inch baby that I am growing out alone in a 60 gal tank. Are there any fishes that can hold their ground against the dovii? (or at least run away from any relentless beatings). I've seen an small dovii shread a jardini 2x its size... . :confused:
 
There are few fish depending on the personality of your Dovii that will cohabit with him successfully. I have had the most luck with keeping large Dovii with smaller species which are too big to swallow but small enough not to be a threat to the Dovii. Neets and Gramodes are the only two I have kept with a Dovii for any length of time and even then at about 10-12 inches all bets are off :eek:

I would say bottom line unless you have at least a 2000 gallon aquarium an adult Dovii will need a tank to itself

They are great fish If you have room a single fish can be very impressive at adult size
 
maybe some nics?
 
I would say you have a year to house just about anything you want with it. I have put trimacs, Red Devils, Red Terrors, Oscars, Catfish and even small wolf fish in with my Dovii's. I'm not saying that any of these fish are gonna be able to pick a spot under a shade plant and relax. But co-hab is possible with Dovii and it doesn't take 10,000 gallons. 10 years ago 100 gallon tanks were far and few in between. It would always be nice to give our fish a lake to swimm in. But if you don't have a lake I think you still can respectfully care for and raise some of these large cichlids. Don't lose sleep at night because you don't have a 600 gallon waiting for your fish. And don't be afraid of introducing fish into your tank and having it fail. I get great enjoyment out of watching new tankmates interact and I think most of you do to. We all buy fish to watch their personality develope and watch them grow in size and persona. I think without the introduction of other fish into a Dovii's tank you are missing half of the fish.
 
Even when they are small they like to abuse other fish do to there aggression. But dont buy other fish just to have more fish then just the dovii in your 60 gallon. I would grow your dovii out a bit and then make plans for a larger tank, at that point then you can move him to his new tank and start something new in your 60. From my experience once your dovii hits 4" pretty much all tankmates are at risk of some serious poundings which will ultimately turn into death from stress. I have a 11" beautiful male from Rapps in a 120 Tall 60-18.5-27 that is my pride and joy and every since he hit 5" he has been a loaner due to his aggression. His territory reaches outside the tank at about 6ft. You cross the line he will pound the front glass. I will have pics and a short video of him soon. I've kept FlowerHorns,Trimacs,RD'S,Buttikoferi's and many other highly aggressive fish and nothing compares to the brute power and strength of an adult dovii male. GoodLuck...:swear:
 
To house any other fish with an Adult 20 inches plus male dovii it will indeed take at least an 800 gallon plus tank and I wouldn't try it unless I had 2000 gallons. For the first year or up to 10 to 12 inches they are rather docile for Dovii anyway:)
 
Here is a pic of my old dovii in a 400g tank. The tile on the floor is 1' x 1'. These fish, a jag and a V. bifasciatus were thrown in this tank at 6-7" and These three lived together for 3-4 years until I had to sell them due to a move across the country. The RTC ate the Vieja and the Jag was removed at 13" when the dovii was finally tired of it.

400g RTC.JPG
 
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