Tank Size For Acaricthys Heckelii

[the_evil_duboisi]

Hi I was wondering whether I could just keep on keeping my heckelii in my 30 gallon tank. First, he is 13cm, and I understand(May not be right though) that at being full grown at 15~20cm, he doesn't have a lot to go. Plus, although he is with a variety of tankmates, the tank looks rather bare.

So I was wondering whether I could take out all the tankmates except for the BN pleo and raphael cat, add some sand to the tank so he can dig, and decorate mostly at the ends, leaving a wide swimming space? Would he be happy?

 

[Colin_T]

A 30g tank is probably fine for one fish but if you had a pr of a group then you would need a bigger tank. Obviously if you can upgrade to a bigger tank then the fish would have more room to grow and this would give it a chance to show off its full potential. They are immensely pretty fish when full grown.

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

Yeah I know how pretty they are That's why I'm dedicating this entire tank for just him....Don't have the time and space to keep more fish/tanks.

Because they only way I can get heckelii and rare Satanoperca eartheaters are as contaminants in shipments with Geophagus altifrons.

Okay, thanks, I think that's just what I'll do But one more thing.....Why do you think the 5.5 inch brute is being mean to his 2.75" companion leucosicita? They aren't even the same species(And he was even civil to his old smaller heckelii tankmate), and there is plenty of space at the moment....

 

[Colin_T]

it's probably a male heckeli and he has matured. Now he wants the tank as his territory and is going to chase everybody else out of it. The smaller heckeli might have been a female or if it died a little while ago, he might not have been mature enough to care about the smaller one in the tank.

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

Maybe so, given his very superior growth rate. I removed the smaller one and sold it as it just wasn't looking very happy.

And as the heckelii looks fine on his own, and seems like he will be fine on his own. So I'm gonna dedicate the entire tank to only him.

Wish I could keep the leucosicita....Is there any way to curb aggresion for the moment until I can remove him? Would dithers even work?

 

[Colin_T]

dither fish might help, as should adding a pile of rock or wood to provide new habitat and territory. Lowering the temperature to around 20-22C can help reduce agression but don't drop it too quickly. Do it over the course of a week or two, (no more than 1degree C every couple of days).