Oh My GOD I got an ALTUM!

[AncientMariner]

I have just bought an Altum tonight from my lfs.

Seems to have settled in really well.

Really impressive looking fish, I paid £7.50. His body is a little bit bigger than a 50 pence piece.

Looking forward to watching him grow.

Any other Altum owners out there? Any advice/experience appreciated?

Thanks...

 

[Kopix Nation]

I was told from a VERY reliable source that altums don't reach there max size in a 60 g aquarium.....hmmmmmmm..... I also heard from this source that altums are easy to care for after a few weeks of acclumation.....hmmmmm

claire

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I was told from a VERY reliable source that altums don't reach there max size in a 60 g aquarium.....

[snapback]923835[/snapback]​

aaaaaand that's what we call stunting a fish, ladies and gentlemen. while no one here can stop you, we can however tell you all about how that's terrible for a fish's long term health and will result in a greatly reduced lifespan.

you just bought $100 fish and you don't want it to live for as long as you can convince it?

 

[Kopix Nation]

Yea you are right but by how much would this affect its life span? I don't want a fish that will live for 20 years!!!It does not really matter because.... because.... I have decided to regect one of my oscars and get another 55g for the altums!!!!Waaaa and I don't want to but I must!!! Bye bye my beloved Ciara!!! Oh I will miss you so!! Paring is such bitter sorrow!!!

claire

 

[Fella]

Stunting a fishes growth is cruel. To stunt it for convenience (because you don't want it to live for 20 years) is quite a selfish thing to do to another living creature imo. I'm not telling you what to do, but deliberately stunting a fish isn't a very positive way to keep fish, and if these fish are as rare as you say, would it not be better to let someone else buy it who can accomodate it with the correct conditions?

 

[jacblades]

how is it that you are 13 and work in a lfs?
just curious...

if you say your boss breeds them, then why not ask him for info?

 

[Kopix Nation]

I am not going to stunt my ALTUM!!!!! ok I was just asking gosh!!! And any way I am getting a tank JUST FOR THEM!!!! It will be at least 24" and all the other things you guys say they need like peat filtering and plants, rocks and driftwood galor! I am not a cruel selfish person if that is what you are suspecting me of being!! Just your avarage teen blonde who knows too much about fish! And right now I am as nippy as a tiger barb because of this problem with my oscars and tanks!!!
But really please I love my fish more than anything else and want to keep them happy and that is why I am giving up Ciara so that the tank that Montie is in now will be just right for him...... I love my oscars!!! I had them since they were weeeee babies!!!

P.S my boss runs a private fish bis. and I just asked him one day if I could join the crew and he said ok. I get paid every week and that is cool for me!
claire

 

[Fish_Mike]

In your other post, you said that you keep the two oscars in a 55 gallon. Now you're planning on giving one away? Well 55 Gallons really isn't good for an oscar. They can't turn around! (as i'm sure you've heard)

 

[Kopix Nation]

60 gallons!! And they can SO turn around!!!!!

claire

 

[Fish_Mike]

Depending on how wide it is...

How wide IS it?

 

[Kopix Nation]

18"!!!!! And they are only 10"!!! But really my Altum tank will be perfect for them.... What should the measurments be for the altum tank??

claire

 

[Fish_Mike]

Well, 18" is ok, i guess, but that gives him 4 inches (once full grown at 12") to turn around. Not very fun depth wise!

Oh well, it should be fine anways.

As for the angel tank. I'd say 3 foot long min., at least a foot wide, but over 3 feet tall if i'm not mistaken. They grow to a foot in height!

 

[Kopix Nation]

3 feet tall!!! Wow no! I would say 28" high would be fine for them!!! I can understand 3 feet long and one foot wide!

claire

 

[Fish_Mike]

They're one of the tallest fish around. 3 feet may sound outrageous, but how many other fish do you know of that grow to a foot in height? Even Dicus get to about 8 inches high, and THEY need the minium of 2 feet.

 

[Kopix Nation]

But I thought the minimum hight for the altum's tank would be 24"!!!

claire