30g grow out for Delhezi and Senegal, how long?

David R

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I'm in a bit of a predicament, about six months ago I ordered three Delhezi, the website started "6-12cm length" and I received one at 12cm and two that were barely 6cm and skinny. One of the small ones didn't survive the shipping, and in pretty sure the bigger one ate the remaining small one on the second night as it had vanished and the big one looked like it was going to pop!

Now the big one is in my 180g and more like 16-18cm and chonky, and I have three smaller dels and three Senegal's growing out in a 30g, trying to get them up to the stage where they're big enough to go in the 180g. The problem is that (obviously) the big guy is growing too, and I'm not sure the little ones are closing the gap! The largest Senegal is about 10cm and nearly big enough to not be a snack for the big del, but the others are more like 7-8cm and considerably thinner. The 30g is bare bottom and I'm feeding them twice a day and changing small amounts of water daily, along with a 50-70% change weekly. What's concerning me now is how big I'll have to let them get before they're able to mix it in the big tank, and if it's going to get to the point where the 30g is impeding their growth.

Obviously at the moment it looks like they've got plenty of space, but I've always found that bigger tanks = bigger fish. To what size would you be comfortable raising these two species in a 30g before moving them into something bigger? Here's some pics just because. IMG_6466.jpegIMG_6467.jpegIMG_6465.jpegIMG_5707.jpeg
 

phreeflow

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I’d just flip the situation and move the larger delhezi into the 30g temporarily and move the smaller bichirs into the 180g and hope that allows them to gain some size quickly.
 
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David R

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Yeah now that you mention it, that seems like an incredibly obvious solution...
 
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David R

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Thanks. I'd hoped to provide a bit more greenery for the bichirs, but between the Congos nibbling them and the Geos burying them the poor plants are really struggling. It's a good thing they're pretty!
 

phreeflow

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Thanks. I'd hoped to provide a bit more greenery for the bichirs, but between the Congos nibbling them and the Geos burying them the poor plants are really struggling. It's a good thing they're pretty!
Yeah. They’re worth it
 

Deadeye

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I haven’t had a senegal, but I’ve heard they grow rather quickly. Dels are pretty slow growers though. I got mine at 4-5 inches a year ago and he’s only at about 8-9 now.
I agree that you’d be best moving the del until the sens get some size on them first - it will help them establish territories while the big guys is out too.
Keep an eye on the Congo tetras - I know they get a bit bigger than Buenos aires, but I’ve definitely noticed my BA school shrink as my del has gotten larger.
 
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