Fish for a 55 Gallon Tank

[CalvinTheShovelNose]

Hi, I'm Calvin,

I have a 26 gallon community tank with all passive fish, and I just got a 55 gallon tank. I was considering getting an arowana but I was advised not to. I was wondering if I could get your opinions on a good "spotlight" fish for my tank. Something that preferably would be big but not too big to outgrow my tank in about a year. I have not dealt with big fish very much so all opinions are very appreciated!
Thank you

 

[Warborg]

Yea an arro gets too big. A Jack Dempsy should fit in it

 

[predatorkeeper87]

Hi, I'm Calvin,

I have a 26 gallon community tank with all passive fish, and I just got a 55 gallon tank. I was considering getting an arowana but I was advised not to. I was wondering if I could get your opinions on a good "spotlight" fish for my tank. Something that preferably would be big but not too big to outgrow my tank in about a year. I have not dealt with big fish very much so all opinions are very appreciated!
Thank you

haha you could have just continued this on the other thread brah.

Big isn't really an option in a 55 unfortunately. The width on those tanks really limits options. There are a variety of cichlid species that would do well in a 55, unfortunately I'm not versed in cichlids at all.

I believe, and take this with a grain of salt because I'm not sure, a rainbow wolf fish would fit in a 55 for a long while if not for life.

 

[Warborg]

Big isn't really an option in a 55 unfortunately. The width on those tanks really limits options.

I was going to mention this but since he already has it I didn't see the point.

To Op in the future try not to buy anymore 55's. A 75 really opens the door to many 'bigger' fish.

With a 55, you really don't want to get any fish that gets over 10 inches otherwise they will struggle to turn around. With a 75 you could push it up to about 15-16 inches(although it would still be cramping the fish).

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I was going to mention this but since he already has it I didn't see the point.

To Op in the future try not to buy anymore 55's. A 75 really opens the door to many 'bigger' fish.

With a 55, you really don't want to get any fish that gets over 10 inches otherwise they will struggle to turn around. With a 75 you could push it up to about 15-16 inches(although it would still be cramping the fish).

agreed but I did the same thing starting out in the hobby. I thought a 55 was giant haha.

 

[Warborg]

agreed but I did the same thing starting out in the hobby. I thought a 55 was giant haha.

I worked my way up myself. Started with 20 gallons then 55, then a few 45B(now called 40B), then 125, the 190. If I could go back I would have just gone for the 190 instead of the 55.

Declaimer: I was single back then and could do want I wanted in/to the house. This may not be an option for the Op.

 

[CalvinTheShovelNose]

Right now I can't really get anything bigger than a 55 because of my living accommodations, and I have looked around and I really like jack dempseys. Would you all think that one would be able to live in a 55 gal, and if so what kind of tank mates could it have?

 

[ehh]

For a year, I think you can keep a jack Dempsey in there. They aren't the fastest growers. But I've seen a few jack demspeys that were pretty close to 1' mark but I don't think that happened in a year.
So short term, sure. Long term, no.

Tank mates? No other cichlids. Maybe tiger barbs or some medium/largish tetras.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

A slight planted tank solo Red Wolf is cool, Red wolf barely get over 8 inches and took years for it to reach that size. I would take this wolf over a JD anytime (this wolf is from a member in different forum)

 

[Deadliestviper7]

A Redfin pikerel or a bunch of wild caught dace, shiners etc