Hujeta Gar Growth rate

hello all, a few days ago I managed to pick up a few hujeta gar. I currently have them in a 20 long that I am using as a grow out tank. in this tank I have some java moss and hornwort for plants. for tank mates there are 2 young ctenopoma, a young senegal bichir, and a few guppies (they both have killed and eaten one each so far). I have been doing water changes weekly. when they grow out of the 20 long they will be move to my 55 gallon. In this 55 gallon I have an adult senegal bichir and two gouramies. So I wanted to know how quickly they grow as well as if the could live with 2 Senegal bichirs.

 

Well, I'm pretty sure that is a bit small for those fish all together

 

The problem with answering is that their growth rate will be affected by their environment. In a 20 long with only weekly water changes they're going to grow slower and will likely experience some stunting.

 

They are like 3 inches

Also they managed to eat pretty much all the guppies

And the ctenopoma are about an inch

If the 55 seems to crowded I can give a Senegal bichir to my buddy as well as the ctenopoma when they are larger

Also I could get rid of the gourami

I could not care less about those two gouramies to be honest

 

They really are only going to be in there until I feel they are safe with the bichir

 

Ctenolucius hujeta is not one of my favorite Pike Characins. Rather plain looking compared to their cousins in Boulengerella. Also seem to be a bit more aggressive toward their own kind when mature.

IME, they can grow quickly. However, as noted, limited space will also limit the rate of growth, UNLESS you up your water changes a lot. I have seen fish grown to very large sizes in relatively small tanks simply by doing 70-80% water changes every three days. Red Devil (pure blooded) grew to 10 inches in a 20 high in one year, from a 1.5 inch fry. (She carried him home in a Dixie cup!)

I'm not advocating for keeping big fish in small tanks, I'm just saying that it can be done with a lot of work. And even then there are limits.

 

Ctenolucius hujeta is not one of my favorite Pike Characins. Rather plain looking compared to their cousins in Boulengerella. Also seem to be a bit more aggressive toward their own kind when mature.

IME, they can grow quickly. However, as noted, limited space will also limit the rate of growth, UNLESS you up your water changes a lot. I have seen fish grown to very large sizes in relatively small tanks simply by doing 70-80% water changes every three days. Red Devil (pure blooded) grew to 10 inches in a 20 high in one year, from a 1.5 inch fry. (She carried him home in a Dixie cup!)

I'm not advocating for keeping big fish in small tanks, I'm just saying that it can be done with a lot of work. And even then there are limits.

Thank you for the help, they will only be in there until I feel they are a safe size to not get destroyed by my Senegal bichir. Also they have eaten all my guppies now.