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I am currently thinking of getting a 100 - 300 gallon "Hell tank" for my living room. I am toying with 4 options, so I figured I'd see what you guys have to say.

option 1: arowana tank
Centered around 1 silver arowana, with oscars, jackdempseys, and a pleco. The only problem is that this is a little on the plain side for me (as alot of people keep these fish in 20 gallon tanks]:|) however, this would also mean cheaper fish.

option 2: stingray tank
This tank would be centered around either recticulata or histrix freshwater stingrays. It would also house discus, angelfish, and some other 6"+ peaceful fish. I like this idea, becasue the fish are uncommon, but not completely rare.

option 3: Mawali eye biter tank
This tank would house some mawali rift lake chichlids, with, of course, a pair of compressips as the centerpiece. This tank is good becasue it is rare, but not too rare. However, if might not be as attention grabbing as, say, a stingray tank.

Option 4: saltwater shark tank
Without a doubt, this would be the most attention grabbing tank. It would contain a bamboo/coral cat shark as well as large grupers and eels. The only problem is that this tank would be astonomically expenisve. I shudder to think how my savings will get eaten up.

Anyway, what do you think is the best choice? I am leaning towards #2.

EDIT: I have to learn how to count. Plus I want to define a "hell tank". Basically, it's a tank with large, dangerous and/or venomous fish (or ones that appear to be dangerous) that can freak out/impress my guests.

Last edited by djtj at 29-Apr-2005 07:19

I don't care which tank you pick but can i come live in you house??? just for the fish tank. what bliss!

good luck

GFG



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If you're looking for something even stranger for a Rift Lake "Hell Tank", how about Perissodus eccentricus, one of the Scale Eaters from Lake Tanganyika? These fishes have asymmetrical mouthparts, so that they can attack prey by stealth, swimming alongside then snapping a few scales off the sides. "Left handed" fish attack the right side of the prey, and vice versa.

This is the article that alerted me to this fish: Name Changes for the Scale-Eating Cichlid Fishes of Lake Tanganyika by Dr Warren. E. Burgess, Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, January 1977, page 94 (yes, my old 1970's back numbers again):

A recent scientific paper by Liem and Stewart (1976) included a revision of the scale-eating Cichlids of Lake Tanganyika. Hitherto, they were divided into three genera, Perissodus, Plecodus and Xeonchromis, but the research of Liem and Stewart has indicated that they now should be classified into a single genus - Perissodus. The new lineup of species therefore is as follows:

Perissodus hecqui (Boulenger) formerly Xenochromis hecqui
Perissodus multidentatus (Poll) formerly Plecodus multidentatus
Perissodus paradoxus (Boulenger) formerly Plecodus paradoxus
Perissodus elavia (Poll) formerly Plecodus elaviae
Perissodus straeleni (Poll) formerly Plecodus straeleni
Periisodus eccentricus Liem and Stewart

The last-mentioned species was newly described in the same paper. It was reported as closely allied to P. microlepis and inhabiting relatively deeper waters of Lake Tanganyika (60-100 metres). It also has an unusual asymmetrical jaw structure (opening to the right or to the left) which apparently enables it to attack its prey and dislodge scales more efficiently. The specimens seem to be equally divided between "right-jawed" and "left-jawed" individuals. These fish must therefore attack their prey from only one side, depending upon which way their mouth opens.

There you go. How's that for an oddity?


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Why not get a bunch of piranhas? Not the most exciting, but if you're going for a hell tank, that's exactly what people are going to think seein it.

A tank of exodon, or [link=bucktooth]http://fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/bucktooth.xml" style="COLOR: #FFFFFF[/link] tetras would be a neat one. They may be small, but they are DEVILS when it comes to eating. Since their mouths are small, they can't really swallow a feeder whole. They swarm their prey and absolutely tear it to shreds to get a meal. It's amazing to watch.

><>Dani<><

Sting rays definitely - they can be quite affectionate and will come over for a stroke or a cuddle (as your tank is so big you'll be able to get in it) at feeding time. They are like dogs of the underwater world.

Don't forget to post some pictures when whatever you choose is up and running.

There is only one obsticle in my way...weight. So I was wondering if you guys could help me figure out a way to solve my weight problem

I am definitely doing a stindray/aro tank if I can fit it. I might do a eye-biter later on, not sure. But I really need you guys to look at that link before I can do anything. In return I'll let you come to the tank party.

EDIT: I love those tetras! I think I have an idea for my 30 gallon Hell Tank Jr.!

Last edited by djtj at 29-Apr-2005 21:12

lol hell tank jr.? i think you should go with the stingrays becauese they are somewhat rare and can be affectionate towards their owners

If all goes well I'll be setting up a 180 gallon with 2 rays, a school of silver dollars, and a snakeskin gourami. The 30 will be a q-tine tank for the time being, but when all the fish are added, I'll do a hell tank jr. with those devil tetras and an african butterfly fish.

Last edited by djtj at 30-Apr-2005 10:26

dj, this sounds kind of scarybut if you need live food let me knowI have some uh hellions you can haveheidi michelle


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