What Do I Need To Do To House A Large Sailfin

[craig855s]

I have a 240L community tank with a young common plec in it, but there is a 15" Gibbyceps for sale local to me and i'm thinking of getting it (rehoming my common at the same time) but looking at my tank there is nowhere for the Gibby to hide, the cave my common hides in is only just big enough for the common (who is only 5") so to house a Gibby in the tank I think i'll need to replace this cave with something a lot larger. What do you guys recomend?

 

[Wills]

Hi, I wouldnt get him to be fair, at 15 inches hes not quite full grown yet probably got between 3-5 inches left to grow maybe more. Ideally they need something like a 5x2x2 or a 6x2x2. If its one of the jewel or fluval tanks they are only 16 inches front to back so at present he wouldnt be able to turn around properly in there?

Wills

 

[craig855s]

its a rio 240 i have, i think it is a foot and a half front to back, it is getting replaced by the rio 400 (or 300 minimum) in 6 months...Maybe I should buy a baby one and rehome my common. That way the baby will be more than happy in my 240,then 300/400 for years to come

 

[Wills]

Yeah that sounds like a good idea but just be 100% on buying the upgrade when you get the baby as they grow really really fast!

 

[dave_oddballs]

they are such a commonly available fish, why buy it now? you never no when something won't go to plan, what if something happens and you can't upgrade? you will have a 2 foot fish in a 4 foot tank, not the easiest fish to re-home, you will be stuck with it, either get a smaller plec or wait until you have a big enough tank, even 400 litres isn't ideal for a gibbi, not to mention the inadequate filtration that comes with the tank, you would need to add a big external.
in the long run is it worth risking it? i would at least wait until you do upgrade and then decide if you still want to do it.