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Back when my dad was a kid, he and his dad had a big (7 or 8ft.) tank with a silver arowana, a tiger oscar, a Managuenese, and a fire eel. Do you think would work okay in a 265 (85x24x30) or would it be too much on the bio-load? Perhaps the Managuenese wouldn't have enough space with the others?

Last edited by TheGoldenDojo at 07-Dec-2005 21:10

i think you could even add a new fish and they would be ok thats a big tank.

Capacity wise you don't have a problem. Wish I had a 265 gallon tank to play with!

As for stock compatibility, the BIG worry for me on your list is the Fire Eel. Mastacembelus erythrotaenia is probably the most delicate of the Spiny Eels, and strictly speaking, you should be looking at a species aquarium for it, and two companions of its own species. I suspect it won't be in the least bit happy sharing its home with such bruisers as the big Oscar and the Jaguar Cichlid.

I'm also tempted to ask about putting in an Arowana with those Cichlids. To describe those two Cichlids as 'feisty' is a monumental understatement. One thing, you'll never be bored watching them!

Let's see ... 265 gallons, and you're set on the Cichids. If you're looking for tough, big dither fish for the Cichlids, try Leporinus species. These large characoids are tough enough to snap back if the Cichlids get nippy. 265 gallons will be ample space to house a small group of these alongside your bad boys. However, they need a fair amount of vegetable matter in the diet, so you'll be buying celery tops and lettuce for them at a fair rate of knots (big appetites to boot), and above all, keep them VERY well covered, because Leporinus species are basically ICBMs with fins when it comes to jumping! A 6 inch Leporinus fasciatus can fly over 6 feet in a single leap when it puts its mind to it, and the bigger ones not only fly correspondingly farther, they have a bigger impact upon landing. A big Leporinus frederici will reach 18 inches in length, and when that goes airborne, it'll land with the impact of a mortar round - it'll go clean through a glass coffee table with catastrophic results!

However, on the plus side, if you DO go for Leporinus, they're tough, hardiness is practically bomb proof, and long lived. Some are also VERY colourful by the usual 'big fish' standards, and will liven up your big aquarium no end. Just don't put them in with anything delicate or they'll probably beat it up - alongside bad boy Cichlids however, they'll live fine, because they can give as good as they get if the Cichlids turn nasty!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002