Need suggestions on a good fish for me...

[noslenwerd]

Hello... I'm new

I have had a 55 gallon sitting around for awhile and want something to put into it I want something different though, not the typical neon tetras and gouramis etc. I want something similar to a piranha, something that has teeth and eats live food (doesn't have to have teeth, but whats cooler than a fish with teeth) Any suggestions? Even if there are some piranhas that aren't the kind that everyone gets. I just want something different and 'manly' i guess you could say heh.

Are there freshwater sharks? Baracudas? Something of that nature.

Oh this is also a little off topic, but i saw a show on the animal planet about mudskippers, can they be kept as pets?

Thanks!

 

[Bloo]

you want a "manly" fish with teeth hey ?!

 

[qwikimpss]

You can get freshwater 'cudas, i dont know where to get them or how pricey they are but i'd immagine theyre expensive.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi noslenwerd

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sure there are quite a few fish which would fit the description you gave. It would help, however, if you tell us a little about the kind of fishkeeping experience you have so our members can suggest something interesting that you might like and be able to successfully keep.

 

[Bloo]

To be honest, "manly fish with teeth eating live food" (I take it a fierce looking fish - not just nice plecos or puffers) generally tend to grow waaaayyyy to big for a 55 gallon.

 

[bettaboi]

a flower horn cichlid has little teeth and is very agressive just be sure you have the tank space for it

 

[noslenwerd]

Hi noslenwerd

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sure there are quite a few fish which would fit the description you gave. It would help, however, if you tell us a little about the kind of fishkeeping experience you have so our members can suggest something interesting that you might like and be able to successfully keep.

ok, i have a good amount of experience. Bred a lot of fish from bettas to gouramis. Had this 55 gallon tank up for awhile with a lot of different freshwater fish (Angels, loaches, gouramis, tetras, gobies, cichlids etc.)

LoL and i knew i was going to get some flack about saying a 'manly' fish, but hopefully you get the idea im trying to put across here.

 

[noslenwerd]

To be honest, "manly fish with teeth eating live food" (I take it a fierce looking fish - not just nice plecos or puffers) generally tend to grow waaaayyyy to big for a 55 gallon.

Yea thats kinda what i figured, but i thought there might be a few exceptions to the rule and that this would be a good place to ask

 

[Bloo]

mmm so what about a Dragon Goby - this pic by SirM is excellent !
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=92703&hl

 

[Inchworm]

Hi noslenwerd

I hope you aren't offended by my post. I was just trying to find out if you were serious or just a passing troll. We do get them sometimes!

Why not ask your question in the cichlids and oddballs sections. I think you might get some good responses there.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

hmmm waht aout gong brackish and getting archer fish? they dont have massive teeth but u can train em to shoot there food like they would in the wild, that pretty cool in my opinion and def will be my next tank

 

[noslenwerd]

Inch worm.. i am 100% serious... Was just looking for some opinions on different kinds of fish i may not have heard about...

 

[3fsh]

What about a Jack Dempsey? Those guys are scary mean.

 

[noslenwerd]

hmmm waht aout gong brackish and getting archer fish? they dont have massive teeth but u can train em to shoot there food like they would in the wild, that pretty cool in my opinion and def will be my next tank

that might be cool! I would also be able to keep the dragon goby with that correct? Since they are both brackish...

Also what kind of fish is a piranha considered to be? Its not a Cichlid is it??

Thanks for all the responses guys

 

[sylvia]

Yes, you can keep mudskippers, ask in the brackish section.

I'd also think the baracudas would need more room than a 55 gallon.

I suppose there are several large cichldis you could try. The most obvious is an oscar. The minnimum tank size for a single one, no tankmates, is a 55. They'll eat feeder fish and can get to 12-14". BTW, watch it with feeders. They can introduce disease. Idealy, you should avoid them or breed your own.

If you want to reserve the 55 for something different after all, BTW, there are still plenty of small fish that will eat feeders. African butterflyfish for one - though not very 'manly' - are unusual and predatory. They also don't actualy need a large tank. A 10 gallon would suit one fine and it could be fed small guppies if you like.

For the 55, you could try one of the larger ctenopomas/perches. These are lovely fish, related to gouramies but more unusual and predatory. Some of the larger ones will eat decent-sized feeders (that you wouldn't think they'd catch) if you let them (I discovered that accidentaly ).

There are plenty of 'oddball' or unusual fish - things like bichirs, puffers or larger catfish - that are also predatory but they range so widely in size and requirements you'd have to be more specific about what you're looking for and the tank's size is a limmiting factor as well.