Trimac Pair?

[Toby_H]

So I have a 120 gal (4x2x2) that will soon become ‘available’ for new inhabitants…

I’m toying over ideas of what to house in it and Trimacs are the top of that list. My first question is simple… will a pair of Trimacs outgrow a 4’ 120 gal? What do you keep your Trimac in?

One ‘requirement’ I have for the occupants of this tank is they be willing/able to eat 2” Cichlids being culled. I’ll be growing out Dempseys in search of the strongest of a brood and the remaining will be culled. Will Trimacs eat them?

I’m not looking to be a ‘producer’ but I like keeping fish as pairs, it brings out personality, color and for once a good thing… aggression… I also like the idea of having a species whose offspring holds a value. To me this value is more to the hobby than to the pocket book. How well behaved are pairs generally? Of course every pair will have it’s individual quirks.

If you think the 120 will work then feel free to share any other experience you may have to share about Trimacs. If the 120 won’t work then please don’t tell me how cool they are…

Thanks
~Toby

 

[ShadowStryder]

A 120 is large enough, you would want to keep a divider handy in case the male gets to aggro towards the female. They can get very aggro. I have a Trimac that is housed all alone because of it. I think it would work better if it was a 6' tank instead of a 4'.
As for a culling fry, when they get to there full size they might eat them. Mine eats 2-3 inch shiners but he usually tears them apart and leaves a mess that I have to clean out.
So I don't feed them to him any more.

If you want something that will swallow them whole may I suggest a pair of Crenicichla.
Lugurbris to be specific. (most get 14-16 inches at least and their mouths are made to swallow fish) There are many variants out there, and they will definitely cull your fry for you. Who knows maybe you might be one of the lucky ones to get them to actually produce fry.

 

[HerCrenVie]

A 120 is large enough, you would want to keep a divider handy in case the male gets to aggro towards the female. They can get very aggro. I have a Trimac that is housed all alone because of it. I think it would work better if it was a 6' tank instead of a 4'.
As for a culling fry, when they get to there full size they might eat them. Mine eats 2-3 inch shiners but he usually tears them apart and leaves a mess that I have to clean out.
So I don't feed them to him any more.

If you want something that will swallow them whole may I suggest a pair of Crenicichla.
Lugurbris to be specific. (most get 14-16 inches at least and their mouths are made to swallow fish) There are many variants out there, and they will definitely cull your fry for you. Who knows maybe you might be one of the lucky ones to get them to actually produce fry.

I think many Lugubris pikes get too large to be kept in a 4' tank. Alone, yes, but I doubt a pair would live in a 4' very peacefully. Saxatilis pikes are a better choice. These pikes don't get huge (12" max, and even that is uncommon; most don't exceed 10") and also have mouths built for inhaling smaller fish. Saxatilis pikes are also easier to breed - "easier", NOT "easy".

 

[ShadowStryder]

I think many Lugubris pikes get too large to be kept in a 4' tank. Alone, yes, but I doubt a pair would live in a 4' very peacefully. Saxatilis pikes are a better choice. These pikes don't get huge (12" max, and even that is uncommon; most don't exceed 10") and also have mouths built for inhaling smaller fish. Saxatilis pikes are also easier to breed - "easier", NOT "easy".

A single compatible pair will be just fine in a 120. Assuming it is 4'x2'x2' and the species doesn't get over 14-16". If pair is developed on own from a small group. Bonding developed this way usually doesn't result in any aggro towards the mate. I agree a six foot tank would be better. But then I am partial toward Lugubris.

 

[davidefc]

maybe a pair of jags? FESTAE pair? mota pair? blackbelt pair? cuban pair?-these would all eat the fry and look good

 

[Toby_H]

So after hearing the inital responses here I'm quite certain I will go with the Trimacs...

But there is a little part of me that is concerned the 120 won't be big enough... But I guess once I get them if they need a bigger tank how could my girl try to tell me no...

Any other opinions?