Best Solo fish for a 55 gallon freshwater tank.

[ShovelNinja]

Hallo I was wondering what large fish yall would recommend for a 55 gallon tank (when fully grown). I don't have a preference in terms of what Fish as long as its below 100$ since I will be buying and cycling the tank in a week or so so I will be semi-broke.

I may be able to get a 90g but as of rn a 55 is the ideal pick since its much cheaper and the tank needs to be less the 50 in in length.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Hallo I was wondering what large fish yall would recommend for a 55 gallon tank (when fully grown). I don't have a preference in terms of what Fish as long as its below 100$ since I will be buying and cycling the tank in a week or so so I will be semi-broke.

I may be able to get a 90g but as of rn a 55 is the ideal pick since its much cheaper and the tank needs to be less the 50 in in length.

One large fish is gonna be tough in a 55 due to it being 12” wide, I suggest going up to a 75 if you’re looking for one large fish. It’s 6” wider and really opens up your options and cost isn’t much more either. You can do a lot with a 55 , but a single large fish isn’t one of them IMO

 

[aotechs]

My vote goes for the 90 gallon. Your choices of fish will be much better with the larger size aquarium.

Do you like catfish? A Gulper catfish would be an option.

 

[ShovelNinja]

The main problem about the 90s is price. In most cases they are to expensive for me. The only reason im able to consider a 55g is they are on sale at my LSF and they are in my price range. But thank yall for yalls input.

 

[Joshuakahan]

The main problem about the 90s is price. In most cases they are to expensive for me. The only reason im able to consider a 55g is they are on sale at my LSF and they are in my price range. But thank yall for yalls input.

Mind if I ask how much the 55 is? I think you would be much happier with the 75 for what you’re looking to do.

 

[Desert Bus]

Han Solo. Go 75g I know they like to say size doesn't matter but that extra 6" of depth will really please you.

 

[duanes]

To me, a 55 is only big enough for 5.5" fish, with the exception of a non-active type that sits around on one spot 12/7.
Your options improve with larger tanks, I go by the "10 gallons of water" per inch of "active fish" such as cichlids.
A 75 gal tank for for something in like an Amatitlania the tops out at 7.5", or 150 gal for a full grown 15" oscar.
If you had something like a 12" sleeper goby, a smaller than 120 gal tank could be used.

When buying fish, it is usually least expensive to get juvies, and grow them out, but most fish like large oscars and other large cichlids take less than a year to outgrow tanks like 55s.
And those large fish in small tanks require much more expensive filtration, and may require daily partial water changes to keep them healthy, so it is best to fit the size fish to the tank, rather than expect things to go well, when a tank is of substandard size for the needs of the fish.

 

[ShovelNinja]

Mind if I ask how much the 55 is? I think you would be much happier with the 75 for what you’re looking to do.

As of right now from what i can see while looking online from petsmart and all that it varies from 400$-800$. I might be able to get a used 1 from someone but 75 and above seems a bit rare as of right now. most people are selling their 55g tanks for 50-100$ while petsmart has a sale so i can get a 55g with a filter and other equipment for 150$. So 55 gallon tanks are currently in my price range.

 

[ShovelNinja]

Thank yall what info im getting online is very convoluted since nearly every site I check give out different tank sizes for the same fish. Most sites say 55 is the minimum for an oscar while 75 was the preferred tank so It kinda get my hopes up. And its the same with other fish online will say something but when I ask the people who have kept the fish Im interested in they recommend a bigger tank.

So what Fish would you recommend for a 55g? Any good I guess medium size fish that can go in a 55g that can be solo or maybe 2-3 of them. I want a tank that doesn't have A lot of fish In 1 tank I would prefer to either have 1 large-ish fish to a few medium size fish to focus on.

I try my best to do as much research as I can so I look up the fish online then watch like 5-10 videos on them. Sadly while I haven't got a tank yet Im already going into obsessed mode for fish and fish tanks.

 

[Rocksor]

Erythinus erythinus, (hi red-fin wolf fish or purple wolf fish) both aren't sold for more than $80. Then there are the upper jaw bichirs with the polli being the most active and will do a feed me dance. The only upper jaw bichirs you shouldn't put in there long term are weeksii, ornate, and teugelusi.