Tank sizes for single fish species

Ok so obviously the bigger the tank the better but is it ok to have fish in smaller tanks than recommended if they are by themselves?? For example a 15 gallon for a red tailed shark or a 10 gallon for a bristle nose or clown pleco. Even a feather fin catfish in a lonely 10 gallon tank. I have always thought that when there is a minimum tank size t is because people except you to put these fish in community tanks but I have always wondered if a fish was alone if it would be a big deal or not.

So what is your opinion on this???

 

A fish's minimum tank size is there minimum tank size for a reason. They require that space in order to swim plenty and live a comfortable.

And also, a redtailed shark shouldn't be in any tank smaller than 55 gallons!

 

Ok so obviously the bigger the tank the better but is it ok to have fish in smaller tanks than recommended if they are by themselves?? For example a 15 gallon for a red tailed shark or a 10 gallon for a bristle nose or clown pleco. Even a feather fin catfish in a lonely 10 gallon tank. I have always thought that when there is a minimum tank size t is because people except you to put these fish in community tanks but I have always wondered if a fish was alone if it would be a big deal or not.

So what is your opinion on this???

The minimum is just for them, they wouldn't do well in anything smaller than that. BNs and clowns need at least a 20g, and red tails need 55 gallon minimum, due to their size and aggression issues. AND..... featherfin catfish would be terribly stunted in a 10 gallon tank!! They grow to 8 inches.

A fish's minimum tank size is there minimum tank size for a reason. They require that space in order to swim plenty and live a comfortable.

And also, a redtailed shark shouldn't be in any tank smaller than 55 gallons!

I agree!

 

+1 on the BN and clowns needing at least 20 as well.

And also a featherfin catfish can get to 8 inches, so it wouldn't be able to swim twice its body length in a 10 gallon.

 

I thought they only grew to 6 :/

 

I thought they only grew to 6 :/

Well, technically (the record is, anyways) they can get to 17 inches.

 

Either way, a fish that large would not be comfortable in a tank that small.

If I had a 10 gallon, I would do a betta ;D hahaha but that's just me

 

ok would you ever, and I mean EVER put goldfish in a 20 gallon tank . lol

 

Never a common goldfish. But the rule for fancies is the first one has 20 gallons, and for each other add 10. So you could keep one in a 20 gallon, although it'd be quite lonely.

 

This is a perfect example of the 1" per gallon rule being misleading in certain situations. Often tank dimensions are equally important or even more important than just the gallons.

 

Yes, a fancy goldfish would work.

 

This is a perfect example of the 1" per gallon rule being misleading in certain situations. Often tank dimensions are equally important or even more important than just the gallons.

Welcome to fishlore Stephen ;D

And very good advice.

 

Yeah well I agree with everyone's comments about tank sizing... Especially because I made the mistake with the feather fin he's in my 37 gal even at max size he would live and not be stunted much I am going to sell him to my lfs because he deserves a better life than I can give same goes for my three 3 inch clown loaches! Commonly sold fish that have big needs!

the only way that you can keep a single fish in a smaller tank is if you take these factors into account
1. When is the fish active?
2. Is it a top level swimmer, bottom dweller, or mid swimmer?
3. Max length,size,and weight of fish
4. Recommended Tank Size
5. Special Needs basic (natural environment) hiding places? plants? shrimp?
6. More Advanced Needs, is it a jumper? Gulps Air? Sensitive to light?
7. Research how the fish acts in wild
8. Gallons vs dimensions a smaller gallon tank can be larger then high gallon tank
9. One fish only tank
10. Set it up and Cycle the tank with heater and filter
11. Test it out with your fish if he actively is swimming and starts to grow then you have done it right just make sure dimensions of tank can hold adult and give swimming room

for example:
25 gal
40 inches long
12 inches tall
12 inches wide

this can successfully hold a full grown AFRICAN BROWN KNIFEFISH
many hollow logs and plants
You are good to go
some will disagree with me but the low height can help the knifefish gulp air easier too! don't take this as an invitation to put a knife fish in NORMAL 25 gallon tanks

 

All species have a minimum tank size and you should never put them in anything smaller. For example, an Electric Yellow Cichlid must have a tank of no smaller than 50-gallons. A Clown Loach cannot be kept in anything smaller than a 100-gallon aquarium. They grow to be a foot long! I’ve never heard of them growing any larger than this. Their biology is the reason they need such a large tank. The minimum tank sized for all goldfish is 30-gallons. That goes for all: Common, Black, Bubble, Celestial, Comet, Fantail, Lionhead, Oranda, Pearlscale, Pompom, Ryukin, Shubunkin, Telescope, Ranchu, Panda, Veiltail, Butterfly, Lionchu, Egg, Curled, Tamasaba, Tosakin and whatever variety I can’t think of right now. That 1-inch per gallon rule is nothing but a myth. None of them should ever be kept in a tank smaller than 30-gallons. By the way, welcome! Just remember: every species has their own minimum aquarium size.

 

yeah I mean just because you have a single fish, does not mean it can go into a smaller tank. like an oscar.....if you think oh, I just have 1, I'll put it in a 29g.....umm no! he'll be very stunted. and it's just cruel. you must do a lot of research, and only keep fish that are appropriate for the tank size you have NOW, not in the future.

 

Unless you follow said formula

 

Single fish doesn’t = smaller aquarium. There really isn’t any universal formula/equation to follow. It all depends on the biology of that particular species.

 

He said clown pleco, not clown loach. Clown plecos are TINY, one of the smallest plecos in the trade.

Having never owned one, I can't say how it would do alone in a ten gallon tank. I suspect it would be fine if it were the only fish and regular tank maintenance was performed.

Anyway, as a general statement, minimum tank size is not just about how the fish acts around other fish. It takes into account the fish's activity level, size, bioload, and growth needs. And then, it takes into account aggression and feeding activity. So, just because you only have one fish doesn't mean a small tank is appropriate.

 

I'm sorry, I have never even heard of a clown pleco and thought it might be another name for a Clown Loach. im

 

Unless you follow said formula

I'm thinking no. And I'm pretty sure a ghost knife should not be in a 25g.

 

Based on dimensions of tank he would kept in an irregular 25 gallon at full size without stunting and he would be completly fine as it supports his needs...
I knew I would receive flak about this but it is truly possible if it is alone in a tank. The only way my formula works is if you do lots of research on individual tanks...

 

Based on dimensions of tank he would kept in an irregular 25 gallon at full size without stunting and he would be completly fine as it supports his needs...
I knew I would receive flak about this but it is truly possible if it is alone in a tank. The only way my formula works is if you do lots of research on individual tanks...

So you're saying a 12 inch fish could grow in a 25g? Without being stunted. There would be no swim room first off. If you took a full grown one, and put it in there....he'd fit. ....sure. but as far as one growing up in there.....I just do not see how that space would support it. Maybe I'm wrong......kinda doubt it though.

 

So you're saying a 12 inch fish could grow in a 25g? Without being stunted. There would be no swim room first off. If you took a full grown one, and put it in there....he'd fit. ....sure. but as far as one growing up in there.....I just do not see how that space would support it. Maybe I'm wrong......kinda doubt it though.

He's talking about a 40 inch long, but not very high, 25g. Brown knifefish are one of the smaller knifefish. too.

 

Even if it's a smaller species....I still don't think that volume of water, nor that size tank is appropriate. ...especially given how challenging they are to care for.

 

That makes sense. I'd just give them the most space possible.

 

Yes with the money it would take to get a custom 25g it isn't worth it, I would just spend the money on the 50+ tank yes the abk can grow to 12"+ but it usually stops at 8" even in recommended tanks
I wouldn't even attempt this, Because I am only an intermediate aquarist, but if you know what you are doing and are an advanced aquarist and give it ample care/food/heating it will thrive I swear!!! Honestly they are RARE to find in wild because they HIDE so much and DONT swim around a lot! They do swim but not unless they have good reason too! they can be lazy (scared, hunting) usual reasons for movement
if he had more personality and liked to swim he would still have ample room....

 

He's talking about a 40 inch long, but not very high, 25g. Brown knifefish are one of the smaller knifefish. too.

Yeah brown Knifefish don't like to go high up because the get air from surface so low hight helps them

 

This video shows Amazon river habitat and knifefish there, well the african brown knifefish is not from the Amazon it still is a knifefish and acts the same as Amazonian knifefish. Notice the small crevice that they live in. The bgk is much bigger and therefore required a slightly larger crevice if you put the custom 25g around where the group of three glass knifefish were you can see as to how they would still have ample room to move

 

Ok so obviously the bigger the tank the better but is it ok to have fish in smaller tanks than recommended if they are by themselves?? For example a 15 gallon for a red tailed shark or a 10 gallon for a bristle nose or clown pleco. Even a feather fin catfish in a lonely 10 gallon tank. I have always thought that when there is a minimum tank size t is because people except you to put these fish in community tanks but I have always wondered if a fish was alone if it would be a big deal or not.

So what is your opinion on this???

Thank you for starting this thread. I've wondered about that too. I love it when people ask questions I have. I think Fishlore should give a prize to the best question of the month

 

these are very interesting replies.