gingerbeer Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Inspired by this thread.... 2 Oscars in a three foot tank.... http://www.qldaf.com/forums/american-cichlid-discussion-31/rescue-oscar-thread-reason-im-buying-8ft-tank-119274/ How big a tank is big enough for American cichlids. How much space to the big boofheads need to survive and thrive? Conversely how small is too small? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch.0 Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Great topic, should be a pinned post forever to increase people's knowledge and awareness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daharkazangel Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Well...... IMHO 4x2x2 for one Oscar 6x2x2 for two and 8ft plus for more then two..... but I love to see my fish swim, not just hover in the one spot due to space restraints. Anything less then x2x2 factor is cruel for 12inch plus fish IMO, as they hit the lids etc too easy. Basically most 3-4 foots are too small for most yanks. Anyone want to see the original tank those guys were in??? Ill post it in this and above thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Yep 2x2 width and hight min for adult fish. So a 4x2x2 is the basic and that extra 2ft on a 6x2 is just better. The fish swims more and has more room to move Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 I would think a 6x2 was large enough for 3 adults personally I agree they should no be kept in less than a 4x2 as adults tho... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazz Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 It is always pleasing to watch a fish swim with ample room, I have a 6x2x2.5 high when I first threw 40 neons in they loved it. So do the discus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbeer Posted February 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 I remember reading somewhere... not sure where but think it was central Americans?... about males staking out territory about 2-3 m wide and then waiting for passing females... any female not ready to breed was ran out of the territory to leave space for the next female.... I think a lot of time we need to separate females causes of this very reason when talking central Americans. Are south Americans a bit soft compared with central? Can you pack more south Americans in the same space compared with central Americans...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 My personal belief is that the minimum sized tank should be twice as wide as the maximum length of the species, and six times as long. So if a species maxes out at 30cm, the minimum size tank should be a 6x2x2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 So many species can be found in groups or schools in the wild, that are viewed as only able to be kept as singles or mated pairs in the home aquarium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daharkazangel Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Drum rolls guys ............................................................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 As if the cramped space wasn't bad enough... the cat ornaments would have driven them to suicide sooner or later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirtle Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 I remember reading somewhere... not sure where but think it was central Americans?... about males staking out territory about 2-3 m wide and then waiting for passing females... any female not ready to breed was ran out of the territory to leave space for the next female.... I think a lot of time we need to separate females causes of this very reason when talking central Americans. Are south Americans a bit soft compared with central? Can you pack more south Americans in the same space compared with central Americans...... I have had a mixed American tank going for close to 3 years now, they have always been kept in tanks quite large 3ft wide minimal width x 7-8ft long + I can say without a doubt it comes down to the fish , I have seen this over and over again every American cichlid will have a different personality some are nut jobs and some are sooks. In short its hit and miss of course the above has its limits , I find my dovii currently are a good example in the past my old female always had issues with other dovii & they would not last, she was taken out and I added 5 slightly small dovii she was reintroduced to the same tank once everyone was a bit bigger & zero issues to this day they are all with 10+ other large Americans, I had a bunch of vieja with them also for years which went great. As for tank size the larger the better sure most can be kept in 4x2x2s but I think if you want to achieve a nice thick XL fish a 4+x3x3 is best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 4 x 2 x 2 bare bare minimum, anything requiring a 3' width would never make it in my house as I have sas (short arm syndrome). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cod Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 ((How big a tank is big enough for American cichlids.)) 1ft is big enough! What u all going on about? waiting.....waiting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 ((How big a tank is big enough for American cichlids.))1ft is big enough! What u all going on about? waiting.....waiting..... If your talking fry maybe. I wouldn't even put an apisto in 1ft . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbeer Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 I enjoyed with apistos a small group in a four foot tank, 2 males 4-6 females and then you see the full extent of the behaviour. Given that for a 4 cm fish how big is big enough for a 30cm long fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cod Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Theres a couple of types that max out at 6cm with apisto's ect. 1ft cube would be min but well maintained would be fine for 1 or a pair. The question is wrong and no good for a sticky, it totally depends on what species/type/amount ect you want to keep. 6x2x2 is too small for full grown 70cm Dovii working of what everyone saying, but would be rather excessively oversize for a pair of Rams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heintz.G Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 ((How big a tank is big enough for American cichlids.))1ft is big enough! What u all going on about? waiting.....waiting..... Yet sure can for a ram as a salt dip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase86uxb Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Theres a couple of types that max out at 6cm with apisto's ect. 1ft cube would be min but well maintained would be fine for 1 or a pair. The question is wrong and no good for a sticky, it totally depends on what species/type/amount ect you want to keep. 6x2x2 is too small for full grown 70cm Dovii working of what everyone saying, but would be rather excessively oversize for a pair of Rams. Nailed it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danfishy84 Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Agreed, it is quantity and type dependent. Still, keeping apisto's in a foot of water is almost the same as keeping beta in a jar and goldfish in a bowl to me. Each to their own, but I like to see a fish acting more natural. (Well as natural as you can get in a glass cage). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbeer Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Nailed it 1 foot cube is hard work for apistos..... maybe borealis or trifasciata.... but my minimum is two foot for apistos.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbeer Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Nailed it 1 foot cube is hard work for apistos..... maybe borealis or trifasciata.... but my minimum is two foot for apistos.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase86uxb Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 I was more leaning toward the end of the post not so much the first part Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cod Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 1 foot cube is hard work for apistos..... maybe borealis or trifasciata.... but my minimum is two foot for apistos.... Yeh that was just example, something only for experienced aquarium keepers to try and not something I'd do. (none of my fish or tanks are close to that small lol) I will say everyone who's posted on here have been good with sizes of tanks recomended for the fish they've mentioned, but you can't generalise tank size to such a large demographic such as -american cichlid-. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sclero p Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 What if your American cichlids are a meter long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
