Biggest Fish For 55?

[PiMpPiStOl]

so, i just got a 55 gallon. 4 feet long, 1 foot width, and about 1 1/2 tall. i need to get a filter and heater an all that good stuff. but for now, i wanna think about what to get. i have a 33g community. so now i want a big fish. but i dont know whats big, but small enough to fit in a 55g. and i want something cool too. not like an oscar or pacu or whatever.

how big do tiretrack eels, or fire eels get? would they fit? or do they get too big?? clown knives? i dunno what else.. what would you reccomend? and prolly somethign i could hand feed cuz i always saw videos of people hand feeding arowana and stuff and that it was cool... and i know those get way too big.

but yeah, whatever you recommend, could you also put what else they get along with? like..the smaller fish to make it look nicer and less boring? and most of em get along with all plecos right?? and the other way around?

thanks!

 

[saz326]

I think most of the fish that you would be after are going to be expensive, and dificult to care for.

Maybe you should look at getting a few slightly smaller fish, that would interact with each other and yet also be fun to watch and to feed.

i.e. not one biggie, but 2 or 3 slightly smaller chaps.

Could you let us know just how much hard work you would like the tank to be? I think some of the fish you would like can be high maintainance.

Do you want plants, rocks or a bare tank with some fish in it?

can I ask how old you are please? Hope you dont mind but I just want to be sure that I and other people on here can tailor the tank and its contents to suit you.

 

[PiMpPiStOl]

im 19...

but, im not too picky, but yeah, i wouldnt want too much. not right now anway.

but yeah, i can be flexible with plants, rocks, sand, bare, anything. im building this around the fish. i knwo bare tanks would be easier right? but then they dont look as nice...

but yeah, it really doesnt matter.

and what do you mean more maintenance exactly? more water changes or something? or what?

 

[foley69]

how about a nice jack dempsey they grow 8-9" and mine is 4" and he feeds from my hand already and your tank is perfect for one they dont cost a lot either i would say £10 at the most also you could have a nice plec in there aswell

 

[PiMpPiStOl]

what about a wolf fish?? i was searching jacks on youtube, and saw a wolf fish...they look cool...

 

[markandhisfish]

my only issue with putting a jack dempsey or similar size fish in that tank is the width of it. at 12" wide its only a couple of inches wider than the fish will reach lengthwise. which imo would seriously restrict swimming space . why not go with something like a pair of firemouths and a nice looking plec

 

[Davo86]

what about a wolf fish?? i was searching jacks on youtube, and saw a wolf fish...they look cool...

you could keep a Erythrinus erythrinus (Rainbow wolf fish) however with such a predatory fish you wouldn't really be able to have any tankmates,
or even a small group of channa dwarf snakeheads

for more info on these just check the predatory section as you'll find loads of info there

 

[MHunt]

I think th larger Cichlids are a good choice, although you could happily house a group od Discus or Angels. I'm getting 5 angels for my 55gal tank as they're stunning fish if you can find nice specimins, and they get quite large eventually growing to about 6" Not too big for the tank size, but big enough to be an impressive fish. The other options of firemouths etc are equally as valid. You could get away with a 55gal for an oscar or a pair if you can find one. Or get a group of youngsters and find a pair from them as they grow and rehouse the rest, one of my LFS's had a stunning breeding pair of oscars, and they are probably one of the fish on my wishlist to breed eventually.

 

[saz326]

and what do you mean more maintenance exactly? more water changes or something? or what?

..hope you're not eating your lunch..

Bigger fish seem to be messy poopers = higher maintanance with vacuuming the substrate to keep it clean and water changes.

Planted tanks will help keep water quality better, but need to be looked after and pruned back etc.

 

[foley69]

ah i didnt see the width i thought 4ft long was quite long for a 55 mines 40" long ermm why not try a blue acara with some type of smaller fish like giant danios as a dither type or a nice plec that would look a good tank as blue acaras never really get over 6-7"

 

[markandhisfish]

I think th larger Cichlids are a good choice, although you could happily house a group od Discus or Angels. I'm getting 5 angels for my 55gal tank as they're stunning fish if you can find nice specimins, and they get quite large eventually growing to about 6" Not too big for the tank size, but big enough to be an impressive fish. The other options of firemouths etc are equally as valid. You could get away with a 55gal for an oscar or a pair if you can find one. Or get a group of youngsters and find a pair from them as they grow and rehouse the rest, one of my LFS's had a stunning breeding pair of oscars, and they are probably one of the fish on my wishlist to breed eventually.

55G FOR AN OSCAR PAIR??? 12 INCH WIDE TANK??? nowhere near nig enough

 

[jonny_dw]

55G FOR AN OSCAR PAIR??? 12 INCH WIDE TANK??? nowhere near nig enough

I agree, 75G minimum for a oscar.

 

[thomasp9021]

i had the same problem only mine is 15 inches wide i decided on a gold severum with a shoal of black widow tetras and a shoal of panda cories and this makes a really interesting set-up.

 

[crabbytomscalestastegreat]

I have a 55 gal tank with 2 oscars 2 dempseys a large pleco and a really big kissing gourami. They are all full grown and are quite nice to each other. My oscars have holes in there heads though.

 

[MHunt]

I think th larger Cichlids are a good choice, although you could happily house a group od Discus or Angels. I'm getting 5 angels for my 55gal tank as they're stunning fish if you can find nice specimins, and they get quite large eventually growing to about 6" Not too big for the tank size, but big enough to be an impressive fish. The other options of firemouths etc are equally as valid. You could get away with a 55gal for an oscar or a pair if you can find one. Or get a group of youngsters and find a pair from them as they grow and rehouse the rest, one of my LFS's had a stunning breeding pair of oscars, and they are probably one of the fish on my wishlist to breed eventually.

55G FOR AN OSCAR PAIR??? 12 INCH WIDE TANK??? nowhere near nig enough

Now i've heard conflicting opinions on this. I think I even posted this as a poll about a year ago or so. I got the impression a 55gal tank would be enough. Maybe not. Not having kept the fish I can't say for sure then, just the impression I got in the past.