Hydrolycus Armatus keeping questions

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R

Ramesh

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 25, 2008
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I am interested to learn about successfully keeping H. Armatus in particularly raising them from a small size.

Do you need a school of 3-5 or can they be raised alone?
Do they require a species (Non community) tank with high flow and good filtration?
I also want to know about feeding of small Armatus, are they strickly live food eaters?
How and when to train onto meaty foods?
Are Armatus difficult to keep (foods, white spot, tank size) and are there some basics to keep them happy and alive.

I am thinking of trying to get some and want to be ready and informed due to there price.
I have read the sticky and other threads but want a little more info on this species.
I would appreciate your advice MFK

Ramesh.
 
you might check out the captive care guide at the top of the page.
 
I have read the treads and alot of others but wanted some info from some additional input especially about feeding and looking after small fish.
Also are they best kept in groups, pairs or alone when small?
I will be able to get only very small fish but want to maximize my chances for success with this species.
 
As adults they don't do well with groups some times. Allthough I have seen a tank or 2 with a group that worked well. So if you have a giant tank for them say around 5-750g, then personally I would get a group of 3-4 and try it out. They are a top level predator in the wild and would never feed on anything dead. I have read several threads that said to feed live and if you want to break them onto dead foods do so at around 6-8''. I personally would never feed one anything but live. The payara as a whole are a fragile fish and more so when they are young. They will not tolerate ammonia and or nitrite at all. So a fully cycled tank is a must. They are a river fish and the biggest ones are caught in a very swift white water rapid area in the amazon. So a good strong current is needed but not a life priority. River tank set up is traditionally used. I raised my Tatuaia in a 4' tank that had a 35x turn over rate from end to end. And they seemed to like it. I have successfully treated fin and tail rot on some payara with antibiotics. They some times get fin and tail rot when shipped roughly of stressed. The normal tank temp for them is low to mid 80's. And occasionally salted at 1 tbs per 5g to help with slime coat reproduction and stress.
 
I think there basic needs for success when young is good supply of live food. Guppies, platy's, minnows. Fully cycled tank with excellent water and high current and temp in the 80's. And be ready at the first signs of illness with meds and hospital provisions. And no tanks mates when young because they can not handle being bullied
 
I was thinking of running a UV to cope with illness and disease.
 
they can be fragile at a very small age as with any hydrolycus.
but they can be the most hardy hydrolycus sp. out there when bigger.
also,the meanest.
ive heard of them killing off every other tankmate once they got bigger.
i'd feed feeders til about 8" then try to ween them off.
you can try starving or any of the other methods you think might work.
they can be kept together when smaller.
also,some of the members on this board have kept them together for a very long time,plus with tankmates.
IMO,you just have to see how it goes.
keep the water flow high as well as the temp.
 
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