The tank size question! eveyone knows what im talking about.

[petspoiler]

...............................I hope you all understand. and dont think of me as a bad fishkeeper. what do you guys think?

I 'get' where you are coming from, and I don't think of you as a bad fishkeeper. you are taking care of them.

On forum, this subject may seem overly repeated, and that's for uninformed people who may read it. now, or in 10 yrs ;-)
Although some members enjoy delivering the lecture, or contending even with informed people.

Some PPL consider fish pets, meaning a lifetime commitment.
Funny thing, there's often other PPL here saying their fish have got to go ASAP, because they're "going in a different direction". That's accepted ;-)
People turn over their stock when their interests change. sometimes because (let's be honest) they've learned all they can from keeping that kind, there's no room to keep them all forever and they want to experience many different species.
I've never seen members who advertise "I'm going in a different direction" get interrogated as to WHY, and slammed about it.

Tongue-in-cheek advise: If you have to 'change your stock' just make sure to say that you've decided to "go in a different direction". It sounds advanced.
Or "I'm cutting back some of my bio-load". NOT--> "HELP! I have 2,000 fish in 200 gallons of water. they crap all day long. I can't vaccume 20 gallons of that every day. If someone doesn't take these fish I'm checking into the looney bin".
;-)

 

[Deubie Doo]

Thanks all for sharing your Ideas, Like I said I was just trying to make a point of how I see it.

and I know the atf should be in a bigger tank. But I also care for him the best I can wile I have him. He has 330 gallons of filtration with 2 jets and almost anothe 100g of airpumps in the tank, also doing about 30gs every 2 or 3 days and feeeding him frozen foods. I knew I wouldnt be able to keep him for life and even putting him in a 500 or up most likly wouldnt be enough. but im not new to fishkkeeping at all. Ive been thinking about selling him anyways, hes not really a fish I was looking for but also like I said you never know intill you try. and those who think Im some one that just buys fish with out doing my homework, if I didnt I already know I wouldnt be were im at now.
and im not just sitting on making a bigger tank and thinking back and forth about it. I know im going to be making one bigger and allso looking in to a carrer at a aquarium that I have family working at.
I love fish and I would do something about them If I knew I was hurting them. Ive had to sell alot of fish That ive loved in the past because I knew it was right. I know I not right about everything but I know when something has to change and if I knew at the start it was a bad Idea with a living animal than I wouldnt of started it.
but I know you guys are right amnd everyone has there own opinon about everything and just thought I would share mine. thank you all for sharing and hope you guys understand and dont think badly of me.

 

[boldtogether]

Kumbaya everyone, kumbaya.

Lets just let everyone keep whatever they want, in whatever they want and feed it whatever they want. Are we making statements of fact or expressing opinion? Do we care or are we just placating one another? Facts are facts and opinions are far more plentiful.
Common sense isn't common and many in the hobby don't have practical sense as to what to keep. Keeping a fish because its cool is cool, but is it practical? Is it prudent? Is it ethical?
Are the big aquariums really in it for the research? Or is it ticket sales? Are the big aquariums taking the best interest of the fish to heart or are they just displaying cool fish?
I keep the biggest tank I can. My fish are cool. Do I care about the fish?
I keep the biggest tank I can.

 

[bassfisher91]

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.

View attachment 785939
View attachment 785940

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?

I think thats a really cool fish...looks alot like a wels imo. I'm also in new york and would be interested if you do decide to pass it on. I've got several large tanks with the biggest being a 300 and there would be plenty of room for him. No rush either way, just letting you know that there is interest on here.

 

[pudgeking]

Thanks bassfisher! Yea I really like the look of this fish too, it's mouth is huge! Very interesting swimmer. Anyways, it's good to know that you are interested, and I will definitely pm you when I think it's time to rehome it.

 

[arowanaryan]

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.

I thought the same thing as you....the RTC will outgrow your tank in 6-12 months. Not years man.

 

[ecoli73]

I only ask about tank size if people need the help with their fish, because that is a potential solution to a problem.

 

[Kujiraya]

Get stock in, look for enough time also show friend and forum enough time, now seen enough, move fish on...keep high turnover rate before ever see one fish die! Friend and forum all clap hand! Everyone too happy!

Erm, wait...

Other way: visit big public aquarium at feeding time, take photos maybe bring friends say this place I own, also diver feeding fish my son so everyone happy clap hand also give you due glory and honor and praise amen.

Same result but cheaper.

 

[petspoiler]

Get stock in, look for enough time also show friend and forum enough time, now seen enough, move fish on...keep high turnover rate before ever see one fish die! Friend and forum all clap hand! Everyone too happy!

Erm, wait...

Other way: visit big public aquarium at feeding time, take photos maybe bring friends say this place I own, also diver feeding fish my son so everyone happy clap hand also give you due glory and honor and praise amen.

Same result but cheaper.

FUNNY!

 

[Kujiraya]

Question: do it for fish or do it for me?

If answer do it for me, do it all for me even I experiment with how much hydrogen sulfide can fish take no problems because I do for scientific curiosity, same as if I try fish been eating pellets vs. fish been eating crayfish which taste better...no need for criticize because I do for own curiosity.

But, if do for fish, then will NOT try today pH 5.5 next week pH 8.5, then week after add in handful lawn fertilizer increase nitrogen content, see if fish fin more red in color look more beautiful so I like more. Think fish first, control own thirst.