Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / August 2005

I am seriously considering putting my tropical fish in this 46 gallon tank
and moving the cichlids to the 70 gallon tank.  I spoke with the manager of
the store where I got my other fish and he put me in touch with a guy that
breeds cichlids.  He will take buy the fish from me if/when they get too
large for my tanks.  They are beautiful fish and right now they aren't
showing any signs of aggression.

In raising tropical fish it was always my understanding, in most cases, the
your fish wouldn't get too big for the tank.  In 30 years I've only that 3
fish outgrow and tank and two of those were gold fish.
 Amateur Cichlids wrote:
 > "scrappy" <thuby@nospamprovidenet.com> wrote in message
 > news:U8KdncnDholhD2HfRVn-1w@provide.net...
 >
 >>Thanks to kay-bee's link I found the unidentified fish in my tank
Tilapia
 >>buttikoferi, found at
 >>http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1442   This is a
 >>gorgeous fish but it grows to as big as 12 inches.  Mine are about an
inch
 >>and half long.  Do I keep it in my 46 gallon tank and hope it stays
 >>smaller
 >>or do I see if I can return them?
 >>
 >>Thanks,
 >>
 >>Nanette
 >>
 >
 >
 > If you own a Tilapia buttikoferi, I'd return it. They require a large
tank,
 > and have problems playing well with others. In a 46 gallon tank, it
won't be
 > long before it's larger and grumpy enough to start beating on it's tank
 > mates.
 > Tim
 > http://www.fishaholics.org
 >
 >

 My buttikoferi gets along perfectly with my leporinus.  Both are about
 5" right now and have lived together for months.  They are actually very
 competitive for food, but they don't fight.  The leporinus has been
 known to often pull strips of algae leaf right out of the buttikoferi's
 mouth.  A fellow fishkeeper had a 15" and 12" living together in a 125
 as well.

 As for their size, a 46 gallon tank makes for a good growout
 environment.  By the time he outgrows that tank, you will have had
 plenty of time to set up a replacement should you desire.