Large, adult silver dollars, ~12", and rubber liner (with folds), are they compatible?

[thebiggerthebetter]

Is there a reason for concern?

IME some inquisitive and smart fish like pacu and giant gourami can bite or chew on the 45 mil EPDM rubber liner folds, airline tubes, whatever plastic objects they can fit in their mouth and sooner or later puncture or chew up or destroy them.

Could be out of hunger or out of curiosity or just for their fun, IDK, but I don't want to risk it.

The reason for the question is that I'd like to transfer a school of ~14 of our SD's into a 25,000 gal cyprinid tank lined with rubber and having hundreds of folds big and small but I am hesitant for the reason stated.

 

[Siddons11]

A big school of SD would look awesome in your koi tank. I watched your most recent update video the other day and was wondering the same thing. I'm not sure if they would try to chew the liner or not but I'm interested to hear what others will say.

 

[yzf450motoxrider]

They will absolutely chew the liner all my fish are currently in a temporary plywood tank with a 20mil rubber liner. My stock includes 4 8 to 10” red hooks. They’ve been in there for about 4 months with no issues until recently I noticed a corner of the tank leaking. Based on how badly they’ve chewed the power head wires I know they are the culprit. The temp system is 600 gal and in my garage so I don’t care. With 25000 gallons I wouldn’t risk it. A 45 mil liner may last longer but eventually they will get through it.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

They will absolutely chew the liner all my fish are currently in a temporary plywood tank with a 20mil rubber liner. My stock includes 4 8 to 10” red hooks. They’ve been in there for about 4 months with no issues until recently I noticed a corner of the tank leaking. Based on how badly they’ve chewed the power head wires I know they are the culprit. The temp system is 600 gal and in my garage so I don’t care. With 25000 gallons I wouldn’t risk it. A 45 mil liner may last longer but eventually they will get through it.

Thank you so much! I so appreciate this, you have no idea, bro! I am indebted to you.

Shocking a bit though. I thought I was clinically OCD worrying about it but it looks like I am not... but let me ask you this:

-- is the liner actually damaged in the corner or can the leak be due to construction?
-- have you caught them "red-mouthed"?
-- is there anyone else in that tank that can be a suspect?

The wires are much thinner and probably fit better in their mouth.

-- Do they have teeth?
-- If so, are they similarly built to pacu teeth?
-- Are they seed-and-nut specialists in the wild just like the pacu?

* * * * *

Another question:

Do SD's bite the fins of timid fish, of which the koi would be?

I tentatively blamed SD's damaging our koi fins in a 1500 gal pond about 6-7 years ago but there were so many other fish in there too that I was never sure. Never caught them "red-mouthed".

 

[yzf450motoxrider]

Thank you so much! I so appreciate this, you have no idea, bro! I am indebted to you.

Shocking a bit though. I thought I was clinically OCD worrying about it but it looks like I am not... but let me ask you this:

-- is the liner actually damaged in the corner or can the leak be due to construction?
Not construction. It is simply a plywood box with a pond liner in it. i haven't checked the inside of the tank to find the actual holes. I will be moving the fish to there permanent home in about 2 to 3 weeks so i will know for sure. I haven't observed them biting the liner but i never watch the fish in the pond. I open the top throw food in and walk away. I'm really looking forward to getting my tank back up and running.
-- have you caught them "red-mouthed"?
Not in the temp system, but when in the main set up caught them chewing on wires and plastic plants all the time.
-- is there anyone else in that tank that can be a suspect?
No, tankmates are 2 oscars and three temensis bass.

The wires are much thinner and probably fit better in their mouth.
The wires are actually quite thick. Thicker than the liner folds.

-- Do they have teeth?
Yes, nasty and jagged
-- If so, are they similarly built to pacu teeth?
Fairly similar.
-- Are they seed-and-nut specialists in the wild just like the pacu?
I don't know. They are vegetarians, but will eat meat if offered.

* * * * *

Another question:

Do SD's bite the fins of timid fish, of which the koi would be?
No, havent seen it, but oscars and bass aren't timid.
I tentatively blamed SD's damaging our koi fins in a 1500 gal pond about 6-7 years ago but there were so many other fish in there too that I was never sure. Never caught them "red-mouthed".

Responses are above in yellow.

Also before i built the temporary system i actually found your thread where the gourami chewed the liner. With the chewing occurring in the tank i new it was a high possibility the SD's would bite the liner.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

yzf450motoxrider You are the best. I wish all on MFK were half as helpful as you have just shown yourself to be. We'd be the world class benchmark of a forum and blow FB and IG & Co out of water. Alas. But a man can dream and hope... Please, please, please, take this example to heart, MFK!!!

Wow! I've never known that SDs share in both pacu equipment and pacu inclinations, that turn out often nasty in captive keeping. The reason behind the seed-and-nut question is that if this is what they consume often in the wild, their dentition and inclinations to bite things would be similar to pacu's, who's favorite delicatessen is the fat-rich Brazil nut, one of the hardest to crack, they say, in the world.

Well, I am not sticking my pinkie in an SD's mouth, that's a given!

You have just saved me so much trouble that I am at a loss of words to express gratitude. Thank you!

 

[yzf450motoxrider]

100 percent confirmed was leaking even worse today I had to find the hole.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Thank you for this.

The tiny bright light dots in the upper left corner - are they pin holes? Also where the droplets are - are these pin holes too?

Right now it is smoothed out but I must assume this was a fold before, right? I don't think either SD or pacu are able to bite a smooth part of liner as their teeth are inside the mouth, in fleshy gums and cannot be exposed / bared.

 

[yzf450motoxrider]

Not pin holes. The bite hole is on the fold just above the water line. It’s hard to see in the picture. It’s a very small somewhat jagged slit