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giant gourami


davidb

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hey guys this tank is really too small for all these fish isn't it? Especially the giant gourami- if the gourami is 45 cm long isn't a bit mean keeping him in a tank 40 cm wide???? this is the link btw-

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... d=78971106

tell me what you think- I might get it then buy a bigger tank for them???

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GG will easily get to 60cm and theyre quite tall,thick fish. they need tanks the same width as aros, pacu etc so are pretty hard to house- need tanks over 2.5 feet wide.

they are totally awesome fish though, i remember seeing one on TV way back and she went nuts over strawberries and bananas :lol: they seem to have heaps of character, i hope to own one one day

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I think I need to take some photos....mine is in a 5x3x3 tank, I dont often do water changes especially in winter. I feed her cat food, wetas, crickets the odd cockroach baby mouse (she is the ultimate way of telling people to separate their mice- they get very squeamish when you tell them hairless is best so your fish doesnt get furballs) and veges. Although she does not look big in the tank she is over 70 cm long, and does stress in a tank that she cannot swim around in. She hates being moved, but likes fingers, and small children. She is happy being in a community tank and is currently tankmate to 2 severums, an angel, a longfinned eel, 1 sailfin pleco and a black ghost knife fish. The only scraps in the tank are when the knife fish and the eel squabble over sunken cat biscuits.

There are many things you need to consider about owning one of these fish. They are more like a dog in a bubble - they do need interaction and they need care. They cannot be shifted easily as they get very cranky when moved are very strong and weigh a lot. You must use a knotless net or a carp tube to transport them. I would not advise anyone not in their own home THEY own to even contemplate it. Be prepared to set up a tank once. Be prepared to spend a large fortune on food if you choose to stick with fish food. I use cat biscuits for several reasons, they are cheap, the nutritional value is the same if not less phosphates and more protein, the fish like them, they are non polluting and they float.

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yes the tank is too small for an obviously growing gourami, but it may have been sufficient up until now. If you were to buy her I would say yes get a bigger tank, I will not judge them for this. They answer your question

"you will need a tank that it as big as or bigger than this one."

Bigger tanks contrary to popular belief are easier and more stable to keep IF you take new introductions slowly that includes water, fish and messing with the tank. You have to be aware of the phosphate levels in foods and be prepared to take the hands off approach. As for the bioload, its not that big of a deal.

There are some points to consider, are you willing to throw out all your water additives and chemicals? Are you prepared to go back to basic fishkeeping and common sense? If so large tanks might be ready for you. If you really want to use dechlorinator use a uv light. Its quicker and cheaper than dechlorinator and more effective (town supply water is not stabilised).

The only time I look at additives is when I feel like messing with the shop assistants. Always tell them how big your tank is in gallons and when they ask how much that is in litres tell them. My bigger planted tank is around 260 US gallons. Try getting fertiliser for that sucker.

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  • 1 month later...

na timtam I have enough tanks for now- by that i mean I am out of money!!! I just bought a 250 L tank which I am gonna set up as a reef tank but don't have metal halide or skimmer on it at the moment so seed to get that sorted! everything else except skimmer, metal halide and lifestock is sorted though.

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