Sorry it took me so long to respond to this thread. I'd meant to reply since being made aware of it.
Given the inclination of many members of this site to keep giant or '/V\onster' fish, the less than ideal housing situation for many fish is frequently revisited.
I have said that a single male dovii, can, in my experience, live well in a 180. It's certainly better than a 100, 120, or even a 125.
Not everyone can provide a larger tank than that. If you have the resources to provide tanks that are of a more grand scale - thats awesome! Its closer to an ideal situation than a 180 gal tank.
If your dovii grow too large for your tank or you no longer wish to dedicate an entire tank to an individual fish, there are many folks on this site that would be more than happy to purchase an adult male dovii.
I'm disappointed to read sentiments that I would say as much just to make a sale.
Do I really need to sell someone a dovii so desperately that I have to make a statement in which I don't believe or cannot get behind?
The answer is no way.
I've talked more customers OUT of fish which they wanted to buy on more occasions than you could imagine. Again, I'm not in this business to make a quick sale or fast buck. Tangled Up In Cichlids is far from a 'Johnny come lately' effort at turning over a few fish.
In my experience, the average maximum size of a male dovii in an aquarium tends to hover around 17-18". Of course there are larger individuals here and there (including several very well represented fellows as seen right here on MFK). So just like there are 7 tall people here and there, some 20+ dovii will be found in the trade.
Ideally, a tank should be relatively wider than the maximum TL of a fish at full size. I have no qualms about that concept.
I still believe that 6 of length and 18 front to back is sufficient (and not cruel) to grow up a male dovii. Remember to change water. Lots of water. Every week. Thats essential for keeping any of these fish we know and love. Bigger fish = bigger water changes.
A fish is not often totally perpendicular to the front glass wall of their tank.
This is not completely unlike the concept of when you (or your children) are trying out a new bicycle. Many times my kids would say to me "we can barely touch the ground when sitting on the seat". How many times did I have to reply that you don't find yourself in that position except right now in the store. Otherwise, you and the bike are in motion. Your feet are on the pedals while moving, and you hop off the seat and straddle the bike when you're stopped.
I wouldn't want to get reported to the 'fish police' or ichthyo-humane society patrol for mistreatment of fish. I would, however, like to make a brief, related statement in regards to the male dovii tank size issue.
Back in the mid-70's (yes, thats after the Dark Ages and also following the Industrial Revolution-thank you very much), filtration was hardly up to snuff with the technology with which we have available today.
My brother and I had 13 tanks between our two bedrooms - the largest of tanks we kept then were 55 gallons.
He had a pair of oscars in a 55 with a big Pimeloid cat and a gold fish that that neither oscar wanted to eat, so it grew up with them in there.
Oh the horrors-right? All those big, messy fish in a 55! True. I do not condone this behavior. However, we had a completely wonderful, aquarium-keeping-preteenager time of it. We changed a lot of water in our tanks. Saturday morning was 'Water Changin' Blues' time, but we weren't blue. We loved it, loved keeping our fish, while learning all we could about them as well.
This 70's flashback occurred to me as I was writing this reply.
You see, how many of you/us became interested in this great hobby via a similar route?
OK, I hope I made my point without too much of a history lesson thrown in there.
I do believe that a male dovii can grow and live in a 180 without suffering a lesser quality of life.
