Fahaka care?

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Pufferpunk
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Pufferpunk »

The problem is--most of their carnage is done overnight. You gonna stay up all night & watch?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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groovitudedude
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by groovitudedude »

Chaz wrote:I have no plans of letting the fahaka (who would be only 3" or so) kill everything in the tank. If any fish was injured more than just fin nipping, or even if it seemed that the fish were too stressed, I would relocate every other fish in the tank. I once tried a 3" oscar with this group of fish, and when the fish started being less agressive at feeding time and never coming out otherwise out of fear of being bullied by the oscar, I took the oscar to the LFS after three weeks. I have no desire to see any of my fish hurt in anyway, but I also don't want to see nothing but a single 3 inch fish in a 110. My only other option at this point is to start the fahaka out in a 20H, but how long could a quickly growing fahaka last in a tank like that?
This is good to hear. At 3'', you may keep the fahaka in a 20H, maybe even a 10, with sufficient water changes (meaning almost every other day)
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Pufferpunk »

I woudn't keep a 3" fish in a 10g. I suggest moving GSPs into a 30g once they are >2". Same for any other puffer. It won't remain 3" for long!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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groovitudedude
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by groovitudedude »

Pufferpunk wrote:I woudn't keep a 3" fish in a 10g. I suggest moving GSPs into a 30g once they are >2". Same for any other puffer. It won't remain 3" for long!
This is true. Only do it if it's temporary.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Pufferpunk »

Why set up a tank for just a month?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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groovitudedude
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by groovitudedude »

Pufferpunk wrote:Why set up a tank for just a month?
Some people aren't in the financial position to set up a tank permanently, or for some other reasons.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Pufferpunk »

Well then, they certainly shouldn't be keeping a fahaka.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by groovitudedude »

Pufferpunk wrote:Well then, they certainly shouldn't be keeping a fahaka.
Maybe they are growing it out to sell it for more money later, or are holding it temporarily for a friend? People keep fish for different reasons.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by apachepufferman »

Chaz wrote:I have no plans of letting the fahaka (who would be only 3" or so) kill everything in the tank. If any fish was injured more than just fin nipping, or even if it seemed that the fish were too stressed, I would relocate every other fish in the tank. I have no desire to see any of my fish hurt in anyway, but I also don't want to see nothing but a single 3 inch fish in a 110. My only other option at this point is to start the fahaka out in a 20H, but how long could a quickly growing fahaka last in a tank like that?
I don't think he wants to keep him in a 20g for long just till he can figure out what to do with his other fish.

A fahaka will last No time at all in a 20g. I got my fahaka at about 2.5" and he is already close to 5" I think. I've only had him since jun 21. Once they get out of the LFS and in a stable enviroment they grow like crazy. YOU could try a divider in the tank at first to see how he would react to the fish on the other side and this would give him the bioload of a 110g tank and give you some time to figure out what to do with the other fish. He won't need the whole tank for a while but a 20g would just be mean I think.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Chaz »

Well, I got the fahaka. He's only around 2-2.5" right now. I ended up just putting him in the 110 with the other fish, but I'm starting to regret it. Not because I'm afraid he'll kill them all overnight, but because he's just so small. I think the larger fish are freaking him out. I'm going to try to get the severums out of there tomorrow, and see how things work after that (the uarus are only a little larger than he is, plus aren't going to compete for food as much, and the geophagus are pretty peaceful toward other fish). He just seems to be sitting on the bottom of the tank, wary of the other fish.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by apachepufferman »

How long ago did I get him? If its only been a day or two then he is probably still adjusting to the tank. So I wouldn't be to worried about it at this point. Just watch him over the next couple days. Does he have any places to hide or get away and make his territory?
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Chaz »

I got him today. He should have plenty of places to hide, as there's two small pieces of driftwood, one very large piece, and one small rock. Every once and a while, he gets up and swims in the middle of the tank, so maybe he's just adjusting.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by apachepufferman »

I only have a 2" red tail shark and a 1/2" goldie in my tank and it still took him a good week or so to really start exploring his space. You have a normal fahaka I think. And just be ready cause he will be a 4" fahaka in no time!!!
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Chaz »

He's already exploring the whole tank. AND being aggressive when other fish get too close... uh oh. I just hope this means that he'll start eating today.
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Re: Fahaka care?

Post by Chaz »

Update: you can put me firmly in the camp of people who recommend no tankmates for a fahaka. He lasted this long, but two large severums ended up dead in the last two weeks. I gave the other four cichlids in the tank away, so now my fahaka is alone with a pleco who hides all day long. By the way, he's around 7" now, so maybe the aggression is size related.
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