The banded leporinus I take care of is about 10 inches, and 12 years old. He was in a 46 bowfront with Nitrates around 400ppm when I discovered him. There was almost never WCs done on the tank, and I don't know how he survived.
I asked to care for the tank in 2021, and did daily small WCs for 2 weeks straight. He became more active, and colored up. Then, I got him a 75 gallon tank, which is the biggest I could get for the place he is in. To date, I visit weekly, and do a 50% water change each visit.
Supposedly he was without tankmates for at least 6 years, and killed anything that was put in. I tried an adult Oscar, just to see how he reacted. Within a few hours, I got a phonecall. Short story....I now owned an Oscar, who was on deaths door. I nursed the Big O back...and he is now the boss of my 180. But he was no match for the Leporinus.
I'd love to try to get him some friends, but at 12 years old, having been alone for years, and limited to a 75 gallon....I just don't think there are many feasible options. I truly want to give him a good long ride off into the sunset in his twilight, since he was neglected so many years. He may just have to remain solo.
I asked to care for the tank in 2021, and did daily small WCs for 2 weeks straight. He became more active, and colored up. Then, I got him a 75 gallon tank, which is the biggest I could get for the place he is in. To date, I visit weekly, and do a 50% water change each visit.
Supposedly he was without tankmates for at least 6 years, and killed anything that was put in. I tried an adult Oscar, just to see how he reacted. Within a few hours, I got a phonecall. Short story....I now owned an Oscar, who was on deaths door. I nursed the Big O back...and he is now the boss of my 180. But he was no match for the Leporinus.
I'd love to try to get him some friends, but at 12 years old, having been alone for years, and limited to a 75 gallon....I just don't think there are many feasible options. I truly want to give him a good long ride off into the sunset in his twilight, since he was neglected so many years. He may just have to remain solo.
