Red1313

... so I figured here would be safe enough.

I'm looking into getting a new fish. Not another betta (though I'll take those to ). This is a bit of a different fish... It's a 17", ambush feeder, carnivorous fish, commonly sold under the name of Water Cow. Now since they highly recommend feeding this guy live foods I've been trying to figure out what would be an option. Obviously I don't want to be buying feeder fish. But guppies might be a bit too small for a guy this big. So, I've been thinking on it and I want a hardy fish that would be easy for a beginner to breed. And preferably one that breeds.... we'll say fast.

The only two fish I can think of that meets those to requirements are Molly's (they get around 4"ish right?) and Convicts.

Now Water Cows are native to South America so it's possible Convicts would be a natural meal. But there is evidence to point to them being found from fresh to slightly brackish waters, which would be less stressful for the Molly's vs the convicts. Also I'm concerned that the convicts might be a bit to vicious a food source (I have heard of them standing up to Oscar's...)

Any idea's? Inputs ect.? I'm still in the idea stage for this fish a the moment so please chime in.

Some info links on the Water Cow:
Water Cow
Eleotris picta
Eleotris picta
Eleotris picta

Amanda

Yikes!! What size tank is that going in??

Shawnie

cons are a great breeding feeder fish...with a proper diet for the cons(proteins, fats, and minerals), you can achieve this.... ive not had mollies breed as fast as the cons, but con parents do not eat their fry so that could be why lol...goodluck!

Red1313

Amanda: I'm planning to build a custom plywood 90 gal, unless I can find a better deal on pre-made tank (or find a place to make a plexi glass one for me). I want it to be at least 24" deep (from front panel to back panel) though so I don't know if I'll find one to buy.

Shawnie: So you think the Convicts would be the way to go? I was reading a thread where these guys were eating almost 24 feeder fish a week so would the Cons be able to keep up with that?

Shawnie

and then some!!!!!! if you are having fish that need the feeders, cons are the way to go ...a nice 20 gal tank with a pair, will be perfect for breeding and raising up feeders.all my babies get the decapsulated eggs and daphnia until big enough to eat baby brine shrimp, bloodworms, ...all that food can be purchased in bulk, for a great price, at kens ....cons spawn about once every 3 weeks or so...fry will be ready to catch and be feeders after 2 months..sooner if feeding smaller fish...each spawn will produce 50-200 fry ....the more spawns, the more fry...for the record, i do not feed my cons to fish as I dont have any that require live feeders like the oscars use to like...but if i did, thats the route I would go as you know feeders from LFS, so arent good.(i misssssssssss my oscars so much )

agabr123

neat!!! if you decide on mollies, then go for the sailfins, they get to 4-5 inches instead of 3-4

Red1313

hmmm... so would a need an extra tank to hold the older spawns in every 3 weeks?

Thanks agabr . Petland has one of these guys and everytime I go there I have to keep telling myself not to bring him home with me They're just so neat!

Shawnie

nope...with plenty of plants and hiding spots, you can keep them good...water changes have to be upted a bit but your use to that ...and you will use quite a few for feeders each week...takes them awhile to grow otherwise they look like the end of a pencil for weeks...

Red1313

Thanks Shawnie! I've never kept Cichlids or breeding fish so this will be a new adventure for me so I should probably get the Cons well started before I bring the big guy home?

note: Also I just realized... if they can eat fish up to 2/3's their body length then they'd probably be able to chomp down on a fully grown OSCAR!... So tank-mates are definetly out...

agabr123

all i have to say is....dang!

Shawnie

doesnt take much to start out a con...a m/f combo is like a chia pet...water and watch them grow!! a cave,flower pot, vase etc of some sort with a gravel subtrate will get them started...then just sit back and watch LOL ..my spawn will be a good 3 months or so before breeding age (although if I had my way, id send you all the breeding pairs I have now hahah) otherwise id send you some for free !!

agabr123

chia pet....those things used to freak me out!!!

Shawnie

same as my cons are today!!!!!!!!! lack of sleep and getting ready for another big tank has me "gouchy" (my grandaughers word) with my cons today hahahah but yes those chia's are freaky stuff

CHoffman

My goodness Red..I had no idea you liked big fish like that!!!...That is just crazy!..never seen one before..I can't wait untill you get him.

agabr123

lol, i know how you feel. today is water change day on 8 tanks and one of my buckets has a crack in it so now i'm working with two 2.5 gallon buckets with all of my tanks!!!! argh. i need a python but it wont fit on the stupid sink in the dorm, the sink itself is really shallow and the faucet is too long

Red1313

Wow I go away for a moment to read an article and one of my threads actually takes off

Rofl. Shawnie if it wasn't for cross border shipping and insane spring weather I'd take you up on that offer

CHoffman: Before I was bit by the Betta bug I was in love with Big fish I also have an inherent weakness for mean anti-social fish. The leading cause of my MTS.

Agabr: I only have 3 gal buckets so WC take forever! However I've decided that I only do a few tanks on different days to spread out the work.

pinkfloydpuffer

Oooh, I am also a lover of big fish! I hope your project works out well

Red1313

Thanks Pink

Red1313

Ooohh!!!
I start talking about needing convict breeding tanks and now a 25 and a 30 gal (with lights and filter) pop up for sale on kijiji. $40 for the 25 and $50 for the 30. I sent e-mails to both hope that they're still availible. I've got an aquaclear 30 on my mature 10 gal right now. I could just move it over and voilia! Instant convict tank! I also know somwhere that woul be very very glad to get rid of a pair of convicts....

Shawnie

someone other than me?

Red1313

Lol my university made the mistake of getting a pair of convicts for one of their display tanks... they ended up having convicts everywhere, two display tanks and they finally started throwing them into an indoor pond where they continue to breed happily to this day
I could probably get some from there, you as well of course

navyscuba

I just that's a mean looking fish. Wow lots of water changes with them. I guess lots of waste. Good luck.

agabr123

you're getting lucky all over the place red!!! congrats!

Red1313

well the 30's gone just got a chance to check my e-mail so I e-mailed her back but for the price she was offering I'm not holding much hope that it's still available.