Big fish

[mr gerbil]

Just a vague possibility for the future:

At some point in the nearish future I'm going to be getting a 180 gallon tank. Originally this was for the golds, but I'm getting other ideas about making a pool for them.
Hypothetically, if I did this, this would mean a 180gal free to be stocked with tropicals :D. Obviously nothing too big, but I've got a few ideas, namely plecos, redtail cats, lungfish, silver dollars, oscars and jack dempseys. Obviously not all those in one tank :rolleyes: .
The lungfish and redtail cat are the main concern, as they're probably more suited to 500gals. Could it work? I know that the forum's more to do with 'bread and butter' fish, but does anyone have experience with these?

[shev]

For bigger fish it isnt so much the volume, as it is the dimensions. it needs to be wide, and not too tall. Redtailed cats get too large for a 180 gallon no matter what the dimensions. good luck on the 180 gallon.

[mr gerbil]

Well, a few years of waiting won't hurt for a redtail (having one's sort of my ultimate fishkeeping goal). Actually, I might forget the lungfish as well and have a cichlid-only tank (plus the pleco, etc). The ones listed would work with enough hiding places, right?

[Shrelana]

wow...I don't know much about any of those fish, but if you get a lungfish...post some pix!

[mr gerbil]

Lol, I will if I ever get one. Unless I get eaten by it :D.
Incidentally, I've just read a very fishy tale about a kribensis killing 2 oscars and mauling a jack dempsey to near death :rolleyes: .

[Shrelana]

woah...where was that? From what ur saying, it's not very likely....

[mr gerbil]

Someone's comment on the krib section of aquahobby (I'm browsing the net for puffer/cichlid info). I think we can put it down as another "big fish tale"...
I think the poster's email's on there, so it might be interesting to inquire further.

[Sorathien]

i plan on one day having a 180 with an oscar, 2 fire eels, and a pleco.

[shev]

2 spiny eels will fight.


your best bet for the redtailed catfhsih would be a pond.



Lungfish can get pretty dang expensive...

[mr gerbil]

I saw an £80 quote for a lungfish, so they're certainly expensive...
As for a redtail cat pond, it's a bit cold in this part of the world (although I could always use a pond heater, I suppose). And someone would probably try to steal it.