I have a 55 gallon with a pair of Ocellaris clowns and a school of chromis (3) and a couple of coral frags. I would like a tank with different kind of fish sizes. I was wondering, what would be the most biggest fish you could place in a 55g?
Biggest Fish For A 55g
- Thread starter Jake337
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KSum89
Aquarium Advice Freak
The biggest fish (that could live in a 55 gallon) i think would be the Marine betta at about 7-9".. Not sure about its max size
I have a 55 too, thinking about ordering one.
I have a 55 too, thinking about ordering one.
kdpuffer
Aquarium Advice Addict
Depends on the 55 but I assume you have a 4 foot long one. Safest bet would be a fox face LO or one spot as they are tough. A tomini, bristletooth or kole tang could also handle it but they are much more sensitive so keeping the water pristine is a must. You must also provide the fish with nice open swimming lanes from end to end as they are all active swimmers. Some people may get bent out of shape by me having given that advice to which I say- a four foot tank is a four foot tank, as long as its set up to keep the fish happy and the water is kept clean. All the fish I recommended are good in a 75g which is the same length and height as a 55g it's just deeper which is where the care of placing rocks to provide winning lanes comes into play.
JustinKBreen
Aquarium Advice FINatic
An engineer goby is a long fish, I also think you could put a snowflake eel also but Personally I would want to rehome a full grown one.
kdpuffer said:
I totally agree with you. 4' is 4' it's just the width and stuff that are different. Yeah I'm planning on only placing the rocks in the middle of the tank so that there is plenty of swimming space for the fishes.
bettaowner
Aquarium Advice Addict
Snowflake morays are an option but they might snack on your clowns.
kdpuffer
Aquarium Advice Addict
HN1 said:
Would you say the same about a 75g?
kdpuffer
Aquarium Advice Addict
HN1 said:
That's where the proper aquascape comes into play, I think it's a little broad to just say no though I understand your concern. I personally have my 55 setup so there is room to swim around everything which would be acceptable in my opinion. A 90 isn't really any different than a 75 other than being taller so being able to swim laps is no different. I personally love tangs but don't want one in my 55 as they are more sensitive but my fox face is awesome, water parameters are perfect and scape is set up to allow swimming and he is happy.
Schism
Aquarium Advice Addict
HN1 said:
+1 I agree
90g is the smallest i would advise any tang. Its not a matter of just swimming room either. Respect the fish and its requirements and you will avoid problems.
I don't doubt that it can be done, but I can't recommend it at the same time. Fish do naturally swim in the vertical as well as lateral and it just seems too small for max size. Yes, a juvie tang can be happy and healthy in a 55 or 75. For awhile. Should fish that size be confined to such a small area (regardless of water quality)? IMO, no. Opinions and experiences vary though.
Schism
Aquarium Advice Addict
Personally i would not keep a tang long term in anything shorter than 6 foot. Note how usually you hear this to be minimum 6 foot 125g min. Those numbers are not made up and there is a very good reason they are minimum recommendations.
Does this mean a tang can not be put in a small tank? Not necessarily depending on species and livestock, swimming room etc, however i would never advise it and i would expect problems. Stress is the number one fish killer. Being in a tank is stress factor number one, remember tangs are not bred in a tank, your tangs come from the ocean. These are big fish, used to a big tank we call the ocean, and they are extremely active swimmers.
Is all a stress game. If you can control that then you could probably put a tang in a glass of water.
Does this mean a tang can not be put in a small tank? Not necessarily depending on species and livestock, swimming room etc, however i would never advise it and i would expect problems. Stress is the number one fish killer. Being in a tank is stress factor number one, remember tangs are not bred in a tank, your tangs come from the ocean. These are big fish, used to a big tank we call the ocean, and they are extremely active swimmers.
Is all a stress game. If you can control that then you could probably put a tang in a glass of water.
kdpuffer
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well I think we have covered the tang subject lol. I do respect your opinions so don't think otherwise. My fox face is awesome, he is very peaceful and doesn't bother anyone at all. They are grazers like tangs so they eat algae, I leave him nori to snack on aswell as feeding NLS pellets and spirulina brine shrimp. He eats anything but some good veggies are a must.
Nu-Nu the eel
Aquarium Advice Addict
Kd's tank is far from overstocked, jake if you get a foxface i would suggest you understock your tank as well and have an open rock scape like kd!
Sniperhank
Giant Clam Addict
In terms of a 55, when it comes to fish kept in it I wouldn't go any larger than a coral beauty and stick straight to nano fish. I look at mine all the time and my coral beauty is overwhelming in terms of size of the tank. With him in there and the other tankmates of 1 bw clown, 1 indigo dottyback, and 1 lawnmower blenny...the tank literally looks full. Nano fish all the way for a 55 imo.
kdpuffer
Aquarium Advice Addict
Nu-Nu the eel said:
Thanks nunu.
