Which one or no one....

[..puSkar..]

So I'll be leaving for college in December and then my dad will be the one doing weekly maintenance on the 3 tanks I have. One of those being a 40 b. Had been growing a vieja in it but it's become way too skittish fory liking so I'll be giving it away . I will be getting a 4ft/5ft tank (90-120 g) within 2 years of college and thus want to grow out some wet pet for it in the 40b currently having the vieja.
I've searched all possible lfs I know of and am listing sone options I have . I want you guys to help me pick a species that could do well in the 40b for 2 yrs approximately with weekly 50% wc. I know it'll get tight by the end of the 2 yr mark but I think the species I'm listing could bear a bit of low quality water and I may request dad to do 2 wc weekly.
1. RTM 1.5-2"
2.festae 2"
3.escindido electric blue Texas 1"
4.vieja marble fenestratus 1"
5.zaire frontosa 4"
6.black widow frontosa 1"
I doubt the frontosa will have the wet pet character growing up. But these are the available options I have with small fish. I'm more interested in options 1/2/3 .
Also - could a single oscura heterospila live in a 40b for life or will it be tight?

 

[duanes]

All of the fish you mention get too large for a 40 breeder.
I wouldn't put anything that gets over 4" in that size tank.
The only cichlids for that size tank would be dwarfs, like Rams, or other Apistos, maybe "a" Rainbow cichlid (Herotilapia multispinosa).
Some Africans might be Alcolapia alcalicus, or Coptodon bythobates

multispinosa above, alcalicus below

Coptodon bythobates below

 

[Deadeye]

I’d agree that that’s too small for most of the fish you mentioned.
Convicts and their relatives make good wet pets though. Alternatively, puffers and labyrinth fish make good wet pets.

 

[..puSkar..]

All of the fish you mention get too large for a 40 breeder.
I wouldn't put anything that gets over 4" in that size tank.
The only cichlids for that size tank would be dwarfs, like Rams, or other Apistos, maybe "a" Rainbow cichlid (Herotilapia multispinosa).
Some Africans might be Alcolapia alcalicus, or Coptodon bythobates
View attachment 1474947
multispinosa above, alcalicus below
View attachment 1474948
Coptodon bythobates below
View attachment 1474949

Won't they be good even for 2 years?

 

[..puSkar..]

What I'm asking is , will the fish I've listed above grow too big for the 40 in 2 yrs?

 

[Deadeye]

Won't they be good even for 2 years?

A lot can happen in 2 years, better to get something for the tank you have, just in case you don’t get the one in the future.
Even the slowest growers like festae would likely outgrow that tank by then.

 

[duanes]

Below RTM at @ 1.5-2"

8 months later below, already too big for a 40B

Herichthys carpintus 1-2"

9 months later below and still growing

Festae below at 2"

below 4 months later

Below male festae the equivalent of 1 year later about 12"

Most Vieja grow twice as fast as the above, as do oscars.
I suppose you could keep 1 of the above in that tank, if you were able to do" daily" 80%-90% water changes

 

[xenacanth9]

All of the fish you mention get too large for a 40 breeder.
I wouldn't put anything that gets over 4" in that size tank.
The only cichlids for that size tank would be dwarfs, like Rams, or other Apistos, maybe "a" Rainbow cichlid (Herotilapia multispinosa).
Some Africans might be Alcolapia alcalicus, or Coptodon bythobates
View attachment 1474947
multispinosa above, alcalicus below
View attachment 1474948
Coptodon bythobates below
View attachment 1474949

+1

 

[FLA]

Unless your dad loves the tank I would wait until you are out of school. Set up a 10gallon in your dorm with some killis or cool gouramis (I like sparklings, chocolates, and vaillantis) so you can take it as you bounce around college. This is a fun time in life don't tie yourself down too much, and don't burden your first job with having to be in a location where you can have the tank. Who knows when you get out of school you might have the opportunity to work overseas where some of these awesome fish come from, or you might find a job in a very expensive city where you can't afford space for your tank. You would hate to have to decide between keeping your fish and taking a job at the Shedd aquarium or Aquarium of the Pacific. You might even go to grad school and prolong your timeline. None of these fish are rare and all will be available when you have some money and a job after school.

All that said if you have to do it the black widow is the least likely to outgrow the 40B in 2 years. A nice pair of calvus would finally be looking good by the time you get out of school. Or there is my standard answer for a 40B regani pikes. You will love them and they could make an awesome community in a 90 when you get it. None of these are wet pets though.

 

[Rocksor]

You're relying too much on a person that doesn't have a vested interest to get the maximum potential out of the fish you want.

1) ...... my dad will be the one doing weekly maintenance on the 3 tanks I have....
2) the tank is too small for any on the list that will be maintained as stated in #1