Caring for Monster Aquarium Fish

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🐟 Caring for Monster Aquarium Fish

🏠 Tank Size & Setup

🏋️ Huge Bodies = Huge Tanks

Many species hit 30–100+ lbs in captivity.
Rule of thumb: Start at 200–300 gallons for juveniles → upgrade to ponds (1,000+ gallons) for adults.
🔒 Secure lids & braces – Arowanas and gars can launch out.
🪵 Décor: Heavy driftwood & rocks, but leave open swim space.

💧 Filtration & Water Quality

💩 Monster waste = monster filtration

⚙️ Oversized sumps or multiple canisters – rated far above tank volume.
🌊 Strong flow & oxygen – powerheads, DC pumps, airstones.
💧 Water changes: 30–50% weekly minimum.
📊 Parameters: Keep within natural ranges (e.g., soft warm water for rays, harder for cichlids).

🍽️ Feeding

🍤 Diet

High-quality sinking pellets (Hikari Massivore, Northfin, etc.)
Fresh/frozen seafood: shrimp, squid, tilapia, mussels.
❌ Avoid live feeders (parasites & aggression issues).

⏰ Feeding schedule

🐠 Juveniles: 2–3x daily.
🐋 Adults: Large meals every other day.
Example: A 30 lb catfish may eat several ounces of fish/shrimp per feeding.

🐟 Tankmates & Behavior

⚔️ Predators: Most monsters see smaller fish as food.
👑 Territorial: Cichla (peacock bass), wolf fish, large cichlids.
🤝 Best companions: Other large, equally robust monsters (with caution).

📊 Monster Fish Size & Weight Examples

🐠 Species	📏 Max Length	⚖️ Max Weight	📝 Notes
🐉 Silver Arowana	3–4 ft	~15 lbs	Powerful jumper, must have lids.
🌑 Black Arowana	3 ft	12–14 lbs	Similar to silver, rarer.
🥥 Pacu	3–4 ft	50–60 lbs	Plant/fruit eater, strong jaws.
🐱 Redtail Catfish	4–5 ft	80–100 lbs	Outgrows most tanks, pond fish.
🐯 Tiger Shovelnose Cat	3–4 ft	40–50 lbs	Sleek predator, lightning fast.
🐟 RTC x TSN Hybrid	4+ ft	100+ lbs	Popular but extremely huge.
🐡 Freshwater Stingrays	2–3 ft disc	20–50 lbs	Sensitive, venomous barb.
🎣 Alligator Gar	5–6 ft (captive)	100+ lbs	In wild, >200 lbs; often restricted.
🐊 Florida Gar	2–3 ft	10–15 lbs	More manageable gar.
🎨 Peacock Bass (Cichla)	3 ft	25–30 lbs	Aggressive predator.
🐺 Wolf Fish	2.5–3 ft	20–25 lbs	Best kept alone, brutal predator.
🐋 Arapaima	6–8 ft (captive)	200–300 lbs	Illegal in many areas, pond-only fish.

🏥 Health & Safety

🔥 Equipment danger: 60+ lb catfish can smash heaters & filters.
🩸 Keeper safety: Stingray barbs, wolf fish bites, gar teeth.
🔌 Power outages: Use backup air pumps or generators—large fish suffocate fast.
🧰 First aid: Keep medications ready for scrapes, parasites, and HLLE (common in big fish).

🧑‍🔧 Extra Considerations

🕰️ Growth planning: A 3-inch “baby” redtail cat may hit 3 feet in 3 years.
🚚 Transport: Moving a 50+ lb fish often requires 2–3 people + oxygenated tubs.
⚖️ Legal issues: Many states ban piranhas, arapaimas, snakeheads, etc.