We are not mind readers when you ask for help the basics tank size water parameters tankmates must be known. IMO there are too many fish in the hobby that do not belong in the hobby. Most people do not have the means to provide for these "monsters". Irredecent sharks, red tailed catfish tiger shovelnose pacu to name a few.
The tank size question! eveyone knows what im talking about.
- Thread starter Deubie Doo
- Start date
you may not be, but many are, especially newbies. so if that idea is placed in so many threads that a new person actually researching before buying will almost certainly run across it, you think that's a bad idea?
and of course you realize that if you put it in your sig line like ElectricBlueSeanBurch here, no one would need to ask.
Do you yell at your doctor when he asks if you've been walking in the woods when you have a rash on your legs? or get upset because he wants to know if you've been around anyone with chicken pox when your bumpy and itchy? how about if you have a bloody cough? do you tell him it doesn't matter if he asks if you've been in a crawlspace or damp basement?
sarcasm fail...
what do you think about this? This fish was sitting in a 10 gallon at petco for at least 2-3 months, and it seemed pretty clear that no one was going to buy it because most people would think it's ugly. Myself, I was fascinated with their shape and movement style, so I have read everything I could find on the internet about this fish (ompok bimaculatus). There was very little information on keeping this fish in aquariums, asides from the fact that they have a max size of 18 inches, and info about its use as a food fish in asia.
So I bought it, mostly because I want to observe it's behavior and growth, for this is not a well-known fish and it is rare in the hobby, and I put it in my 25 gallon cube tank, which is 18x18x18.
I imagine that people will say that this fish is already too big for my tank, and I half agree. Although I think that my hoplo catfish has more mass on him than the ompok, the ompok swims and acts like a big fish, if you know what I mean, and it will grow to a large size. However, these people probably know nothing about how active this fish is or how it moves (it hovers a lot, and makes quick-darting movements, when it's not resting on the ground which is about 70% of the time), or how fast it grows and how large it will get (all the sites say "18 inches max, but usually smaller," and who knows how stunted this fish is because of its incarceration in petco). As of now, each dimension of the tank is over 3 times the length of the fish, but is that enough? Who knows?
When this catfish grows a couple more inches or so, I plan to try an rehome it to someone on mfk (hopefully someone else here shares my fascination with this fish), unless I can upgrade by that time. In fact, if anybody in nyc with a nice big tank for this guy wants it, I would be happy to sell it or trade it now.
So... what do you think? Am I a scumbag for doing this?
So I bought it, mostly because I want to observe it's behavior and growth, for this is not a well-known fish and it is rare in the hobby, and I put it in my 25 gallon cube tank, which is 18x18x18.
I imagine that people will say that this fish is already too big for my tank, and I half agree. Although I think that my hoplo catfish has more mass on him than the ompok, the ompok swims and acts like a big fish, if you know what I mean, and it will grow to a large size. However, these people probably know nothing about how active this fish is or how it moves (it hovers a lot, and makes quick-darting movements, when it's not resting on the ground which is about 70% of the time), or how fast it grows and how large it will get (all the sites say "18 inches max, but usually smaller," and who knows how stunted this fish is because of its incarceration in petco). As of now, each dimension of the tank is over 3 times the length of the fish, but is that enough? Who knows?
When this catfish grows a couple more inches or so, I plan to try an rehome it to someone on mfk (hopefully someone else here shares my fascination with this fish), unless I can upgrade by that time. In fact, if anybody in nyc with a nice big tank for this guy wants it, I would be happy to sell it or trade it now.
So... what do you think? Am I a scumbag for doing this?
not entirely. I figured you were, but there's enough people that really think it, so...
The point is, it could be water related...for instance fish grasping air near the surface could be parasites...or ammonia or nitrite problems. So the comparison with a doctor asking your life style questions is valid.
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The thing is you are reaching out to loads of people who know more and less then you about every subject you could talk about. So your going to get responses from those people. Those who know more are scared that...well they are more capable to take care of your fish. Which is true. But I don't think that everyone is here to make a fool of themselves. I think they are here to learn from these people that know more then them so they can properly take care of there fish. Then those people argue with those who know more. Then we are all scared for those fish :/. This is a 3 dimensional world so yes tank size and water conditions and other fish in the tank all need to be factored in to a solution to any problem big or small. Especially when your asking a complete stranger for help.
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Yea I back allmost every post in this thread. SHOULD we shy away from them? Not at all ! Why do you think this forum exists!?! Its just alot of people buy thies fish without knowing how big they get. If everyone could have a 500 gallon tank or more, this would be just a regular fish forum. I understand yes you have a massive tank for a fish that is small right now, but it WILL get bigger so they sometimes forget their manners and say "it needs to be in XXX gallon tank" Well yes they are right but not for a year or more. I think alot of people are just sick of seing monsters crammed into small tanks. I have a 180 with a rtc in it... Will I house it for life ? Not a chance ! But I will enjoy it for the next few years while it fits properly then give it away for free to someone with a larger tank. (IE my buddy who is currently planning a pond in his basement... lol)
As for water testing, gill nailed it.
As for water testing, gill nailed it.
