TANK BUSTER TERM FULL
Even worse, they are shoaling fish and should be kept in groups, increasing the space required, and being nervy they can charge into the glass at full speed if alarmed – these have the very literal potential to be tank busters. Unfortunately, their growth rate is extremely rapid and as they can reach about 110 cm their owner may quickly find even the biggest tank they can fit in their home is not big enough. Pacus are quite commonly available in the pet trade and often bought as tiny, cute little silvery fish about 5-8 cms in length. This fish often reaches 60 cm in captivity but can grow as big as 100 cm, and could easily require a tank of around 500 gallons. These fish are highly predatory and grow rapidly, so even fish that were too big for them to eat when they first entered the aquarium may not stay safe for long. It gets its alternative name for the fact that it can use its stiff pectoral spines to walk across land to fresh pools of water in the wild- it may escape the tank using these appendages and requires a firmly secured lid. In the aquarium trade the Clarias or ‘walking’ catfish comes in some attractive marbled or albino varieties which are usually the reason it is sold to unwary pet owners. They also grow to enormous sizes, about 130 cm, and like the Pacu can be very nervous, so if panicked could crash into and break the glass of their tank once they reach sufficient size. They are active and elegant swimmers and require a lot of space for this, and being easily stressed if isolated should be kept in shoals, so already need a larger tank, even when small. (Read here our full Red Tailed Catfish breed profile) PangasiusĪnother attractive fish which is all too easy to acquire, the Pangasius is a silvery black grey and white catfish often sold under the popular name of Iridescent Shark. Most purchasers will face a large and lengthy future problem these huge fish have a 20 year lifespan. Whilst undoubtedly handsome fish and full of personality, only a well-informed expert with a super-sized aquarium should take one on. They grow incredibly rapidly, and to about 134 cm. Although not aggressive, they are voracious eaters and will devour any fish they can fit in their mouths. Very cute when little and often sold at about 15 cms, these fish are cheap to acquire and pretty to look at, with their creamy white and black markings and red accent to the tail. Most species also need big tanks, as those sold under the trade label Common Pleco can easily attain a length of 30 cm.
Owners should be aware that they require additional feed as their algae eating tendency often lessens as they grow and they should never be expected to survive on that alone. Often sold as algae eaters, Plecos (Plecostomus) come in several varieties and are bottom feeding catfish with sucker mouths that are of striking appearance and very easy to acquire. They can reach 35 cm, and being very active fish, are felt to do best in a spacious tank of at least 125 gallons. But not only are they unsuitable for the community set up, being voracious predators which will eat anything they can get in their mouths, they are destructive, moving and damaging tank furnishings, and they grow. The tiny babies are very appealing being mottled all over. They are easy to breed and fry are easy to raise as the parents practice parental care. The Oscar cichlid is another common species, and very popular being an attractive fish with a lot of personality.
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