Fish that get very large (pic heavy!)

[Blue Ridge Reef]

Really? Look closer. You see the black ghost? I count 9 pictures in the first post. Everyone but you seem to as well...

[frogmanjared]

I couldn't find good pics of large black ghost or chinese algae eaters... they really didn't show the size, so there's no pics right now. The problem with chinese algae eaters is that as they get bigger, they feed of the the slime coat of fish as well . It's good for turtle shells though... keep 'em sparkling clean and free of parasites!

[lauraleellbp]

Huh I'll keep that in mind. An actual use for CAE- who knew!

[frogmanjared]

Originally Posted by Crystalview

I am very glad you posted pictures of these popular fish. So many people buy them when they are small and don't realize how big they get.
I just saw another article of someone that released big tropical fish into a lake. I hate that!
We are also starting to see our foreign plants in our lakes and water ways. Wow how we change our world...........

I know what you mean... now there's 2 snakehead species loose in the US. The Northern snakehead has reached most of the way along the east coast, and into Illinois. Now there's populations of Giant snakeheads in Florida... only time will tell how far they will spread. Below: giant snakehead

It's illegal to have any snakehead... but the giant got loose becuase it outgrew someone's tank and they let it go. The northern snake was let loose in one of the east cost states becuase the guy wanted it for a food source.. now it's causing havoc. I've even seen clown loaches and cory catfish let loose in my town's creek! They die over winter of course, but if something gets loose that can survive, we're screwed! It's not just the fish themselves that are problems it's the diseases they carry...anyone heard of VHS? It's destroying our fisheries, and it hasn't even spread yet! Thanks for listening to me vent.

[forddna]

That's a gorgeous fish above!

BTW, there is a "monster fish rescue" that can be found on google, so if anyone reading this needs to rehome a big fish, or has room to give one a good home, check it out!!

And for general interest, there is a Monster Fish Keepers website (forums, classifieds, etc)

You might want to post a pic of a big Arowana since some LFS sell them 5-6". They are so slender at that size/age that they don't LOOK like a big fish..

[fishman9809]

it is a beautiful fish

[fshfanatic]

Originally Posted by frogmanjared

There are many aquarium fish that people impulse buy because they're cute, or they don't know how big they can actually get. Here's a list of some of those giants. Feel free to add to the list. Research before you buy!
-Arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum >4ft.

That is NOT an Arowana. It is a Arapaima and it is a baby one at that.

[Spiritwind]

I am thinking black pacu can get bigger than 40 pounds, they are supposed to be able to reach 5 feet in length.

[fishscale]

Yeah, definitely not an arowana. I actually saw one for sale once. I hope the guy had a large pond.

[Blue Ridge Reef]

I made the mistake of buying a red snakehead several years back. I was experienced with big cichlids, I figured I could manage it. I kept it for a little over two years, it got not only huge, but splashed water everywhere, broke glass tops, and was a menace to my household. After keeping it in a tank with plywood and cinder blocks on top for long enough to give up, I gave it to a buddy who had made a large tank. He called me back after another year or two begging me to find it a home or he was going to have to put it in the freezer. I doubted that would kill it.

[fishman9809]

ha, those are very strong fish

[frogmanjared]

Fixed the Arowana. I knew that pic was a little fishy... Any other large fish people have seen in their LFS??

-Dinosaur Eel, Senegal Bichir Polypterus senegalus(or other bichir species) over 16"

[forddna]

Here's a link to a thread re: 18" black ghost knife. Has a couple photos.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...ight=bgk+years

[Characins]

My lfs sells arowanas. Some are only 4", and we have some bigger ones nearly 2'. Even though the big ones are right next to the small ones, people assume theya re a completely different species and then get mad when they find out their cute little arro is now a foot long and ate all the fish in the tank.

By the way, here's a good pic of an oscar, the fish people most often buy that ends up growing out of their tank. I see kids walk out with a 10 gallon tank and a baby oscar in a bag. Poor oscars.


Really big fish, the arapaima-

[Orlando]

This is a great thread for people to see how big these water monsters can get.. Good stuff.