Stocking List Oddballs And Mini Monsters 5g-50g

ParrotCichlid · Feb 25, 2018

Terabyte · Feb 26, 2018

I dunno about that Black ghost... Can't they get upward of 18 inches?

ParrotCichlid · Feb 26, 2018

I dunno about that Black ghost... Can't they get upward of 18 inches?

You are indeed right this has now been edited. Thanks for pointing that out!

But 18" is very rare in captivity. Wild caught BGKs have been known to get up to 20" but in captivity they very rarely get over 14-16".

Abby974 · Feb 26, 2018

You have kribs as easy fish as which I would agree with unless in pairs as which then apparently they become mass murderers.

tyguy7760 · Feb 26, 2018

A few things..

Sajica males get about 6 inches

Most senegalus are tank bread these days and stay around 7-9 inches. Wild caught specimens can get larger but these are exceedingly rare. That being said, I wouldn't keep any bichir in anything less than a 55 gallon. And a moke should probably be kept in something much bigger.

Petricola are indeed small but are also schoolers. I probably wouldn't keep a group of them in anything less than a 40b long term.

Giant Danios are extremely active and need long tanks. I'd say a 55 gallon 4 foot tank is minimum

Spiny Eels can get quite long. Even at 11 inches I'd say they are going to need something more than a 40 gallon to have a decent existence.

Also, many of these scientific names are out of date. Both sajicas and convicts are under the Amatitlania genus now and jack dempseys are under the Rocio genus just to name a few.

ParrotCichlid · Feb 27, 2018

A few things..

Sajica males get about 6 inches

Most senegalus are tank bread these days and stay around 7-9 inches. Wild caught specimens can get larger but these are exceedingly rare. That being said, I wouldn't keep any bichir in anything less than a 55 gallon. And a moke should probably be kept in something much bigger.

Petricola are indeed small but are also schoolers. I probably wouldn't keep a group of them in anything less than a 40b long term.

Giant Danios are extremely active and need long tanks. I'd say a 55 gallon 4 foot tank is minimum

Spiny Eels can get quite long. Even at 11 inches I'd say they are going to need something more than a 40 gallon to have a decent existence.

Also, many of these scientific names are out of date. Both sajicas and convicts are under the Amatitlania genus now and jack dempseys are under the Rocio genus just to name a few.

This has now been updated. Thanks for the information, the majority of the points you made have been edited and corrected. Although a couple of things have been left unchanged. Petricola for example hasn't been changed because plenty of people have had success keeping an adequate school in the aquarium size mentioned. Unfortunately stocking and aquarium size is debatable from individual to individual. This list just acts as a basic guide, people still need to do adequate research on any fish species they want to keep.

I will get round to correcting the scientific names although these don't make the list any less effective. Even with some of the names being out of date they still point to the correct fish species for people to find them and do research. But I will get round to changing this.

louis bitonti · Mar 4, 2018

You are indeed right this has now been edited. Thanks for pointing that out!

But 18" is very rare in captivity. Wild caught BGKs have been known to get up to 20" but in captivity they very rarely get over 14-16".

you seem very smart about exotic/ rare fish do you have anyidea where I can get a freshwater stingray, reticulated ray?

2211Nighthawk · Mar 4, 2018

you seem very smart about exotic/ rare fish do you have anyidea where I can get a freshwater stingray, reticulated ray?

There’s a guy in Winnipeg Manitoba that has them. I’ve seen them up for sale a few times.

Redshark1 · Apr 15, 2018

Thanks, very interesting.

puffer boi · Sep 4, 2018

I disagree with dwarf puffer care being "easy"...
they require stable water conditions, heavy planted tanks and a meaty diet.

ParrotCichlid · Sep 4, 2018

I disagree with dwarf puffer care being "easy"...
they require stable water conditions, heavy planted tanks and a meaty diet.

It’s not hard to provide stable water conditions, a heavily planted tank and a meaty diet. While an aquarist may have to go out their way to provide these things it’s still relatively easy.

Ask yourself this question. Could a noob to fish keeping successfully keep a dwarf puffer by just doing a few hours research online prior to purchasing?

Then ask yourself this. Could a new aquarist with a few hours research successfully keep most of the species on this list marked as “hard” ?? You have your answer.

FishLogger123456789 · Mar 17, 2019

Thanks this must have taken you forever.

mans · Feb 19, 2020

I've seen the question come up on here fairly often, what aggressive fish can I keep in my 20 gallon tank? Can I keep Piranhas in a 30 gallon tank? Well this compilation of oddballs, unique and aggressive fish should help answer them questions. I have compiled this list for people who want something unusual or even a minI monster for their aquarium of 5-50 gallon in volume.

You should find something on this list that matches what you are looking for. It includes everything from Piranhas to Snakehead species and Gar like fish.

If the fish species is marked as Medium or Difficult this means that it is really only suitable for experienced aquarists or people who can put a significant amount of research into meeting the specific species needs.

The list is in the following format.

Scientific Name | Common Name | Care Level | Size | Tank Size

Luciocephalus aura | Peppermint Crocodile Fish | Difficult | 5" | 30 gallon Tank

Belonesox belizanus | Pike Livebearer | Easy | Males 5" Females 8" | 40 gallon Breeder

Ctenolucius hujeta | Rocket Gar | Medium | 10" | 50-75 gallon Tank

Xenentodon cancila | Needle Nose Gar | Medium | 12-14" | 50-75 gallon Tank

Butis Butis | Crocodile Fish | Easy | 5.5" | 30 gallon Tank

Dermogenys pusilla | Wrestling Halfbeak | Medium | 1.25"-2.75" | 20 gallon Tank

Exodon paradoxus | Bucktoothed Tetra | Easy | 4-6" | 30 gallon Tank

Serrasalmus sanchezI | Red Throat Piranha | Medium | 7" | 40 gallon Breeder

Catoprion mento | Wimple Piranha | Medium | 3-5" | 20 gallon Tank

Pristobrycon calmonI | Dusky Piranha | Difficult | 5.9" | 50 gallon Tank

Serrasalmus Irritans | Irritan Piranha | Difficult | 5.9" | 50 gallon Tank

Archocentrus sajica | Sajica Cichlid | Easy | 6" | 40 gallon Breeder

Cichlasoma Octofasciatum | Jack Dempsey | Easy | 8" | 50 gallon Tank

Anomalochromis thomasI | Juwel Cichlid | Easy | 2.8" Males 4" Females | 20 gallon Tank

Pelvicachromis pulcher | Kribensis Cichlid | Easy | 4" | 10 gallon Tank

Apistogramma | Dwarf Cichlids | Medium | 1-4.5" | 20 gallon Tank

Crenicichla Compressiceps | Dwarf Pike Cichlid | Medium | 3-5" | 20 gallon Tank

Altolamprologus compressiceps | Compressiceps Cichlid | Medium | Males 5" Females 3.3" | 20 gallon Tank

Lamprologus ocellatus | Tanganyikan Shell Dweller | Easy | 1" | 5 gallon Tank

Pyxichromis orthostoma | NA Cichlid | Easy | 8" | 50 gallon Tank

Neolamprologus brichardI | Brichard's Lyretail Cichlid | Easy | 3-5" | 30 gallon Tank

Cichlasoma salvini, Nandopsis salvinI | SalvinI Cichlid | Medium | 6" | 40 gallon Breeder

Archocentrus nigrofasciatus | Black Convict | Easy | 6" | 29 gallon Tank

Crenicichla saxatilis | Dwarf Spangled Pike Cichlid | Medium | 10" | 50-75 gallon Tank

Aequidens rivulatus | Green Terror Cichlid | Medium | Males 12" Females 8" | 50-75 gallon Tank

Thalassophryne Amazonica | Prehistoric Monster Fish | Medium | 4-6" | 20 gallon Tank

Betta Albimarginata | Whiteseam Fighter | Difficult | 2" | 15 gallon Tank

Erythrinus erythrinus | Rainbow Wolf fish | Easy | 8" | 40 gallon Tank

Pantodon buchholzI | African Butterfly Fish | Easy | 5" | 20 gallon Tank

Monocirrhus polyacanthus | South American Leaf Fish | Medium | 3" | 20 gallon Tank

Polypterus senegalus | Senegal Bichir | Easy | 12-14" | 50 gallon Tank

Polypterus mokelembembe | Moke Bichir | Medium | 12-14" | 55 gallon Tank

Polypterus Palmas palmas | Marbled Bichir | Easy | 12" | 50 gallon Tank

Pimelodus Pictus | Pictus Catfish | Medium | 5" | 30 gallon Tank

Macrognathus Siamensis | Peacock Spiny Eel | Easy | 11" | 30 gallon Tank

Apteronotus albifrons | Black Ghost Knifefish | Medium | 12-14" | 50 gallon grow out 75 gallon Adult

Xenomystus nigrI | African Brown Knifefish | Medium | 12" | 50 gallon tank

Esox Americanus Americanus | Redfin Pickerel | Medium | 7-8" | 40 gallon Breeder

Acantharchus pomotis | Mud Sunfish | Easy | 8" | 40 gallon Tank

Chanda ranga | Indian Glass Fish | Medium | 3" | 20 gallon Tank

Nandus Nandus | Marble Dat | Easy | 6" | 30 gallon tank

Asterophysus batrachus | Gulper Catfish | Easy | 10" | 50 gallon Tank

Lebiasina astrigata | Colombian Dwarf Predatory Tetra | Medium | 3.5" | 30 gallon Tank

Channa gachua | Dwarf Snakehead | Easy | 7.8" | 50 gallon Tank

Channa bleherI | Rainbow Snakehead | Easy | 7.8" | 50 gallon Tank

Channa bankanensis | Banka snakehead | Medium | 9" | 50 gallon Tank

Channa punctata | Spotted Snakehead | Easy | 12" | 50-75 gallon Tank

Chaca chaca | Frogmouth catfish | Easy | 7.1" | 40 gallon Breeder

Tetraodon Miurus | Congo Puffer | Medium | 6" | 40 gallon Breeder

Tetraodon biocellatus | Figure 8 Puffer | Medium | 3" | 20 gallon Tank

Carinotetraodon travancoricus | Dwarf Puffer | Easy | 1.5" | 5 gallon Tank

Carinotetraodon lorteti, salivator, borneensis, irrubesco | Red Eye Puffer | Medium | 1.8" | 20 gallon Tank

Colomesus asellus | Amazon Puffer | Medium | 3.1" | 40 gallon Breeder

Tetraodon turgidus/Pao turgidus | Target Puffer | Medium | 6" | 40 gallon Breeder

Cottus bairdI | Mottled Sculpin | Medium | 3-4" | 10 gallon Tank

Crenicichla minuano | Minuano | Easy | 6" | 40 gallon Breeder

Periophthalmus barbarus | african mudskipper | Medium | 5-6" | 20 gallon Tank

Bunocephalus coracoideus | Banjo Catfish | Easy | 6" | 20 gallon tank

Abramites hypselonotus | Marbled headstander | Easy | 5.5" | 30 gallon tank

Cetopsis coecutiens | Torpedo Whale Catfish | Easy | 6" | 40 gallon Breeder

Enneacampus ansorgiI | African Freshwater Pipefish | Hard | 6" | 20 gallon Tank

Allenbatrachus grunniens | Freshwater Toadfish | Medium | 12" | 50 gallon Tank

Polycentropsis abbreviata | African Leaf Fish | Medium | 3" | 20 gallon Tank

Achirus lineatus | Freshwater Flounder | Medium | 4.7" | 20 gallon Tank

Pseudomystus siamensis | Siamese Barred Catfish | Medium | 7" | 40 gallon Breeder

Centromochlus perugiae | Leopard tatia | Medium | 2.5" | 20 gallon Tank

Cottus bairdiI | Mottled Sculpin | Medium | 5" | 20 gallon Tank

Devario aequipinnatus | Giant Danio | Easy | 4.5" | 40 gallon Breeder

Ageneiosus sp. cf. vittatus | Striped Ageneiosus | Medium | 8" | 50 gallon Tank

Synodontis petricola | Cukoo Catfish | Easy | 3.5" | 30 gallon Tank

Platydoras costatus | Spotted Rafael Catfish | Easy | 4-8" | 20-40 gallon Tank

N. depressifrons | Butterfly Goby | Difficult | 4" | 30 gallon Tank

Rhinogobius Candidianus | Candidius Goby | Medium | 4" | 10 gallon Tank

Brachygobius xanthomelas, Brachygobius doriae | Bumblebee Goby | Medium | 1.5" | 5 gallon Tank

Stigmatogobius sadanunidio | Knight Goby | Easy | 3" | 20 gallon tank

Liosomadoras oncinus | Jaguar Catfish | Difficult | 7" | 50 gallon Tank

Lepidiolamprologus HequI | HequI | Medium | 3.5" | 20 gallon Tank

Microctenopoma nanum | Dwarf Climbing Perch | Medium | 3" | 20 gallon Tank

Ctenopoma acutirostre | Leopard Bush Fish | Easy | 6" | 30 gallon Tank

Astyanax jordanI | Blind Cave Fish | Easy | 4" | 20 gallon Tank

Sphaerichthys osphromenoides | Chocolate Gourami | Difficult | 2.3" | 15 gallon Tank

Lepomis megalotis | Longear Sunfish | Easy | 5-8" | 30-50 gallon Tank

Typhlonectes natans | Rubber Eel | Medium | 19" | 50 gallon Tank

Pollimyrus castelnauI | Dwarf Stonebasher | Difficult | 3" | 30 gallon Tank

Fundulopanchax sjoestedtI | Blue Gularis | Medium | 5.9" | 20 gallon Tank

Etheostoma blennoides | Greenside Darter | Difficult | 4-6" | 20 gallon Tank

Crenuchus spilurus GÜNTHER | Sailfin Characin | Medium | 2.7" | 20 gallon Tank

Saltwater

Ichthyomyzon unicuspis | Silver Lamprey | Medium | 8" | 40 gallon Breeder

Antennarius maculatus | Warty Frogfish | Easy | 8" | 30 gallon Tank

Odontodactylus scyllarus | Peacock Mantis Shrimp | Medium | 8" | 20 gallon Tank

Nudibranchs | Difficult | 5-12" | 10-100g Tank

Wow so many interesting fish. Thanks for sharing !

Stocking List Oddballs And Mini Monsters 5g-50g

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