Monster Fish ALTERNATIVES

[@deletingsoon.3790]

You should make a mini monster tank.

[@dwsdarius]

Yes I was think about turning my 55g into a mini monster community....just need time to move the fish that are currently in it

[@deletingsoon.3790]

That's understandable, but I'm looking forward to when you do.

[@destroyerbabyduck5247]

@@dwsdarius am making one

[@joshuapeak3474]

But isn't that called overstocked turning a 55 into a monster tank

[@joshuapeak3474]

Cuz yea some don't get that big but still

[@wawo8358]

Striped Raphael Catfish is a good alternative to Red Tail Catfish They have a pretty similar body build but the SRC is more shy and nocturnal but only grow 5-7 inches

[@rayluckman9324]

Yea but it I was think a Irwin replacement

[@ThePersia450]

@Tommy Allen yeah I have four syno's across different tanks. Cool fish. But they're definitely not a fan of the light

[@KayakKingdom]

Lima shovelnose. Instead of tiger shovelnose. I have one, they look very much alike, but the Lima stays at 12".

[@redsev4484]

I was diving with a guy that was always touching and grabbing at everything. It was strangely satisfying for everyone when he got stung by a starfish and was in excruciating pain for a couple of days.

[@raydranorae144]

i didnt know starfish can sting .. must be painful by the sound of that

[@vietle8900]

About the giant Gourami. I think a snakeskin gourami would do, too.

[@vinnygraziano1318]

OMG, I love that you're petting, associating and interacting with your Tiger Shovel Nose. I had mine in a 10ft by 6ft wide and 3ft tall. And I would sit in the pool and my Red Tail and Tiger Shovel Nose would sit in my lap like an actual dog and let me pet them and actually hug them. They were great, they got way too massive for me to be able to keep them. I had to give them to a special fish keeper with a much larger aquarium

[@dwsdarius]

I ended up giving mine away as well, they just get too big!

[@wolfmania10]

I’m so glad you made this video because for the longest time I’ve been saying that I’ve found the “community tank peacock bass” now this is an exaggeration because of course it’s not a real bass but to me I find it looks strikingly similar in colors and markings. The Satanoperca Daemon from the Geophagus family! It is a close relative of the common Jurupari Geos but the Daemons get these huge black spots on their body and base of tail much like you see with certain Peacocks along with a yellowy green body and a generally similar body shape. The part that makes them community is they only get to around 8 inches and are relatively semi-aggressive and only get moody when someone gets in their way. They are a schooling fish so as an alternative to peacocks I believe a small school of these could do well in a tank as small as 120 gallons. But they can be kept singly in something as small as a 55. They’re one main requirement is sand substrate so that they can pick it up in their mouths and sift through it to find scraps of food (making them a great cleanup crew for other messy cichlids). The only drawback I have for these is they do like pristine conditions so larger water changes are recommended. But other than that, great personality, great colors, and stay a small size compared to the similar looking monster peacock basses

[@dwsdarius]

I was searching for a substitute for peacock bass....and now that I look at that fish, that's definitely a great option

[@wolfmania10]

DWSDARIUS FISH TANKS yess it actually took me so long to notice myself and then one day I really saw all the similarities and I felt all cool like wow I have the first “community peacock bass” hahahah

[@Fishtory]

What a great idea for a tank theme! I was thinking instead of gar, half beaks would physically look sort of similar.

[@sarabelle5304]

good video. I've noticed that Bettas and Arrowanas have a similar body style. The same jaw type and everything.

[@bradyonyx174]

Sara Belle I find my bettas to be very reminiscent of arrowanas. Especially the females, due to their smaller fins being a closer match to arrowana fins. And the aggression is also there.

[@apss5736]

Fully agree. I have a plakat that jumps out of the water for food and has a surprising large mouth

[@s0yboy]

Thanks for this vid! Im refurbishing a 210gallon and I never want to have to upgrade or rehome fish so "medium" monsters only haha. I already have 3 baby hujeta gar and they are tru tiny monsters! One shot out of the tank and hit me between the eyes and flapped away across the floor when i was feeding - he was fine, but they are real escape artists keep a TIGHT lid

[@NotSure876]

Columbian tetra is a good replacement for a piranha

[@IceBoxRo]

I think Tetragonopterus argenteus is even better. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqexi6GurpJ_oZY kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIWZeKxopJWMhJI

[@TheWizel]

Bucktooth are the true piranha

[@VestedUTuber]

Bucktooths would be better for that if you're primarily looking for behavior rather than appearance.

[@TheWizel]

@@VestedUTuber You get piranha for the viscious reputation

[@VestedUTuber]

@@TheWizel Or if you just want to keep something that looks interesting - or something unique in the case of the more obscure species. There's also quite a few species of Piranha that have dietary requirements and behavior more similar to Pacu than anything, and thus could technically be considered an alternative to Pacu.

[@MC-ml3cn]

Great vid. Thanks!

[@christianz344]

Mini monster tank would be really cool....I'll wait til you make one and I'll just enjoy that lol. That 350 is sick btw. Good job

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, I have a 55g that I might use

[@christianz344]

@@dwsdarius that'd be pretty awesome man. I'll rock with whatever decision you choose to do with the 55. Good luck.

[@Pugetwitch]

My 7 year old got me rewinding your intro song over 5 times doing this interpretive dance type 😂😂😂 when they switch into the robot/mannequin issue 😂?? Got me in tears bro 🎉 appreciate you

[@dwsdarius]

Lol, I doubt my music choices, but this gives me hope

[@Emperor_x8]

Another good alt for the arrowna a short finned betta called plankats and some female bettas

[@VestedUTuber]

Regarding kissing Gouramis, they're still a pretty large fish - maybe not monsters but they're definitely up there in not-quite-oscar territory. For people who need something smaller still (like for a 55 or similar), any of the three-spot Gouramis are a good choice, and for tanks smaller than even that (for example, a 29), the Dwarf Gourami is an excellent choice if you can get them from a reputable source. And for nanotanks (between 5 and 10 gallons) which seem to be the current fishkeeping trend, Honey Gouramis and Pygmy Croaking Gouramis are the go-tos. Do note that although not all Gouramis have the temperament of the Giant Gourami (which to be fair is actually not that bad. You seem to have gotten two in a row with particularly belligerent personalities), they DO tend to be tank bosses. All species of Gourami are territorial. In fact, the Kissing Gouramis you recommended are actually consistently more territorial than Giant Gouramis, but they don't do as much damage when they go after other fish. Also, the smaller species tend to only be territorial towards other gouramis (male Honeys and Pygmy Croakers will only go after other males of their species, while three-spots and dwarfs only care about other labyrinth fishes). If you want a more peaceful alternative, Badis perches are another option, though they have to be kept on their own or with small, bottom-dwelling fish that aren't super active - like Hillstream Loaches. Anyway, here's some more monster fish alternatives: Spiny Eels: Coolie Loaches are small, long-bodied fish with a similar tendency to spend most of the day in a cave or burrow. Snakeheads: Bichirs are INCREDIBLY similar to snakeheads in both appearance AND behavior, but only get at most a quarter of the size. And seeing as though Snakeheads are banned in a lot of places, you'd probably get the Bichir anyway if you wanted a fish like that. Goldfish: Cherry Barbs, while not available in the wide variety of shapes and patterns as Goldfish, have a very similar body shape to the comet goldfish and very similar behavior. Which makes sense because barbs are on the carp-side of the Cyprinidae family anyway. Keep in mind, however, that Cherry Barbs are a shoaling fish with a VERY strong pecking order instinct and will fight until this order is established, and you might lose a couple in the process. Common Pleco: Any of the dwarf species of Pleco, up to and including the Rubberlip or Chubby Pleco. Pretty much exactly the same thing but smaller. Also, L-46 Zebra Plecos are absolutely gorgeous and only really get about 2.5 inches long, so those would be my go-to for smaller tanks. Freshwater Stingrays: For decent-sized pond-type setups that aren't quite big enough for the big rays, teacup stingrays are a good somewhat smaller alternative. They still get big, but not quite as big as the big rays. Just make sure you're actually getting a teacup and not a big ray being sold as a teacup. Arowana: In addition to African Butterfly Fish, _Betta imbellus_ or a wild-form _Betta splendins_ makes a good smaller alternative. They don't quite have the upturned mouth like the Arowana or Butterfly fish, but their body shape and fin layout is at least a little closer. Garibaldi: For saltwater keepers, the Garibaldi isn't really that massive simply because most marine setups tend to be bigger anyway. Bigger tank means more water volume, which means more dissolved oxygen and better chemical stability which are both absolutely critical for saltwater setups due to the higher sensitivity of marine animals. However, for anyone looking for something smaller but with the same attitude (for a micro reef, perhaps?), pretty much any of the more aggressive damselfish will work. Mekong River Catfish: You know this fish is big when a _redtail catfish_ can be considered a smaller alternative. And the redtail itself is a fish that's better off skipped for its own smaller alternatives, so...

[@Arachloroptera]

Nice comment. Will kissing Gourami do well if kept alone?

[@Arachloroptera]

Also can kissing Gourami be kept with rainbow sharks?

[@destroyerbabyduck5247]

Mekong giant catfish is more like dabauwi catfish

[@prajwaltamgadge8894]

13:26 what is the name of that fish..?

[@dwsdarius]

peppermint crocodile fish

[@ethanwright5461]

The smaller spiny eels such as half banded spiny eels are good alternatives to tire track eels and fire eels. Purple spotted gudgeons are a great mini predator, growing around 6 inches, other mini predators include pike livebearers, mystus bimaculatus, chaca chaca for example

[@dwsdarius]

Wow, never thought about smaller eels or even that gudgeon...sounds like they would be great options

[@dwsdarius]

Just finished googling those last two...you introduced 2 fish to me that I never knew existed...THANK YOU!!!!

[@ethanwright5461]

@@dwsdarius I've been interested in this subject before and have actually made a large list of "mini predators" : Cichlids Jewel cichlid Firemouth Convict Ellioti Steatocranus casuarius Cockatoo apisto Jack Dempsey Electric Blue acara Dwarf pike cichlid Altolamprologus Angelfish Cuban cichlid Catfish Gulper Chaca chaca Mystus bimaculatus Centromochlus Perugiae Tatia intermedia Centromochlus orca Asian bumblebee catfish Bumblebee jelly catfish Black lancer catfish Harlequin lancer catfish Synodontis lucipinnis Featherfin synodontis Spotted Raphael catfish Striped Raphael catfish Hoplo catfish Eel tailed banjo catfish Three stripe african glass catfish Pseudeutropius brachypopterus Labyrinth fish Leopard bushfish Kissing gourami Betta macrostoma Betta splendens Paradise fish Giant pikehead Peppermint pikehead Anabas testudineus Climbing Perch Killifish Golden wonder killifish Blue gularis Puffers Red Congo puffer Hairy puffer Dragon puffer Golden puffer Dwarf puffer Amazon puffer Red tail red eye puffer Spotted Congo puffer Livebearers Pike livebearers Wrestling halfbeak gambusia affinis Platinum halfbeak Snakeheads Rainbow snakehead Ceylon snakehead Sharks Rainbow shark Red tail black shark Harlequin shark Eels Half banded Spiny eel Lesser spiny eel Peacock spiny eel Barbs Tiger barbs Tetras Columbian tetra Congo tetra Serpae tetras African red eye tetra buenos aires tetras Danios Giant danios Other African butterflyfish Clouded archerfish Prehistoric monster fish Purple spotted gudgeon Exodons Red wolf fish Polypterus palmas palmas Amazon leaf fish Hujeta gar Spotted gar Acestrorhynchus isalineae Centipede knifefish African brown knifefish (Sorry about the formatting I copied the list in)

[@Arachloroptera]

I have watched this video many times. It is really one of the best videos on Aquarium fishes because by having the right choice of fish, one can enjoy the hobby better instead of giving it up and also causing needless cruelty to fishes. Would really appreciate if you can actually write down the common names of all the species and the substitute that you recommend and also their scientific names. Will help this knowledge be there for posterity.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you, next time I'll give you all labels for each fish

[@s0yboy]

I've been keeping betta antuta, one of the largest bettas, top size about 5 inch. tiny hunters for sure. I think they look like lil bichirs - forward facing eyes, always watching me thru the glass and quite bold and curious. Very food driven and LOVE hunting live shrimp and insects

[@The-Fishkeeper]

This is a brilliant idea for a video.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank You!

[@thecreativestudio9557]

Thank you! Now I will definently start looking for some spotted silver dollars for my 63 gal. South american biotope. It´ll be really fun when people come over and see that I have "Pirahnas" in my tank hahaha!

[@dwsdarius]

You can definitely fool people with spotted silver dollars...they even get the red belly!

[@fliphustler4104]

what fish is this? 5:18 ?

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

exodon tetra

[@sparkdrive2900]

What is the alternative for peacock bass?

[@dwsdarius]

Lake Victoria cichlids such as the zebra obliquidens or sp. 44 do remind me of peacock bass and have a predatoral instinct. Also the demon earth eater has similar body markings as a cichla orinoco bass

[@wolfmania10]

Pink Tail Chalceus is the best replacement for a gar! Very peaceful with anything that won’t fit in their mouth. Great color with shiny silver bodies and bright reddish pink tails. And as long as they have enough space for themselves they do not mind sharing top of tank with other species. They share same frenzy type activity during feeding time and are very powerful predators like gar. The instant food hits the tank it’s in their mouth. They stay a good size (10-12”) so they can be kept longterm in something as small as a 75.

[@dwsdarius]

Awesome, I remembered them right after I uploaded the video...I kept both species and they definitely are awesome!

[@jeighahr]

Do you think a 100 gallon can keep 2 oscar and 1 arowana or 2 butterfly koi and 1 arrowana until their maximum size?

[@dwsdarius]

2 oscars yes, cross out the rest because in 2 year the koi and arowana will be too big. Plus koi prefer cooler temps than the others

[@jeighahr]

@@dwsdarius thanks bro for that very helpful info.

[@Bearskimethod]

Monster fish require substantial amount of effort and care, not to mention costs.. I keep RBP and will attest to the fact, they grow fast and need large enclosures.. Great video broski 👍🏻

[@dwsdarius]

Thank You, yes big fish=big responsibility

[@bt-fc6pv]

I have a Senegal bichir 2×pictus catfish a siamese algea eater,alta pike cichlid and a yoyo loach who I'm planning to swap for a synodontis catfish/ African butterfly fish or just sell in a 53gallon is that a good stock this is my first aquarium over 10g had it for like 1yr now

[@dwsdarius]

A synodontis might have conflict with the pictus cats...but the African butterly should work

[@bt-fc6pv]

Thanks :)

[@dawnmariebrock909]

Such a great video! Thank you 😉👍

[@yungadub9372]

That arowana has drop eye id get it checked out but great vid

[@badger3044]

Fantastic video DWS very informational educational seen some fish in there that I never seen before so thank you

[@CorpseXotics]

I have a hujeta gar I trained on pellets its honestly my favorite fish in my mini monster tank

[@colbymiffin1883]

1 year to late but i had a warmouth sunfish (green sunfish) they act just like peacock bass and have the same mouth. Plus they both have that bass feel to them. If it is legal in the area its a great alternative

[@dwsdarius]

I never kept them but looking at pictures...they do have that mouth!

[@garyjerry2294]

Where can you buy a hugeta gar????

[@alfiecox9860]

Good video you should do a part 2

[@dwsdarius]

Yes I just got so many more recommendations I have a full list again

[@darrylguy2338]

Great video

[@NotSure876]

I inadvertently discovered another monster alternative. I got a 5 star general hemichromis frempongi today and noticed it looks a lot like a peacock bass

[@dwsdarius]

Now that you mention it they do look very similar

[@DanielMejia-qk3qg]

Shortnose gar could be a possible alternative as they do tend to be smaller than spotted gar and average smaller in aquariums but in the wild do tend to get to 2ft nearing 3 , I'm also an avid fisherman for all gar species in Texas.

[@veryboliao]

The clouded archer fish is a great alternative for the arowana. They are top dwellers, similar mouth, and very active. They are completely freshwater fish, unlike the regular archer fish that requires brackish water.

[@dwsdarius]

Yes that would be an awesome alternative!

[@PalJoey-rm2yh]

My rule of thumb is not to buy a fish that will be too large to be able to behave normally in the size of tank you have. That is, very large fish can basically only tread water in our tanks - making the aquarium resemble a cow pen and not the "slice of nature" that the hobby is about. I favor building environments with fish, rather than cattle in my back yard. Once you get past the thrill of seeing large fish gulp down expensive food, there's nothing left to watch.

[@Yessirrrsz]

Those south american leaf fish look really cool

[@PaulBowen3]

Really good video......

[@dwsdarius]

I cringe watching how foolish I was at 0:18

[@robmagz]

"You live and you learn" still great video.. what would be opinion for red tail catfish ??

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

@@robmagz for nano tanks south american bumblebee catfish

[@StopTheSound]

What is that fish at 06:36?

[@dwsdarius]

Hujeta gar

[@kinnikuzero]

Hey Darius how you doing? I have a 1000L (240) that house some medium sized severums and 2 juv Argentea's (~10cm), and some other more peaceful fish. I'd like to add a silver arowana will it be fine or will it be bullied? Never kept them but a local store is offering some albinos for a decent price, they're also pellet trained. They're about 15ish cm

[@VestedUTuber]

I wouldn't get the Arowana regardless. A 240 is insufficient for a fish that gets that big, and in particular Arowana need tanks with a LOT of surface area. Honestly, these fish shouldn't be kept in standard rectangular tanks at all and generally do better in hybrid pond/aquarium setups (like KingOfDIY's 2000 gallon Arowana and Stingray tank) anyway.

[@dwsdarius]

Its hard to say, it depends on the personality of your fish. Arowana are very timid fish especially while young, so even mild fish such as you listed could take advantage of a timid arowana...although the chances of that happening are slim

[@kinnikuzero]

Yeah I think I'll pass

[@Lflower1Stars]

I think I keep nano fishes instead...thanks for showing them ..nice vid.

[@maxwellethoxian4085]

I have both types of aquarium fish and I have a school of piranha in a 300 gallon

[@maxwellethoxian4085]

Killi fish is the most good looking fish for me and their relatively neat to keep

[@jamie91995]

This is a good video to make as very few people can keep those monster fish

[@cichlidkingaquatics5988]

Darius, man I love your knowledge of the hobby. I really enjoy the fact that you understand mass water for huge fish. My favorite 8" fish are Salvini. I have a 9 fish colony in a 75. Alot of people would say they need bigger tanks. This colony thrives. And the African leaf fish! Mine are a little aggressive, but they have huge personalities. Thanks for the best video in my personal opinion in a long time brother!

[@dwsdarius]

I love the color of Salvini...just could land a male...bought 5 with intent to get a breeding pair...all females!!!

[@catfishcave379]

Half-beaks for gars. Horseface loach for stingrays too - they like to burrow under the sand with their eyes sticking out. Great idea for a video - I would like to see a part two.

[@dwsdarius]

Thanks, you guys gave me enough idea's for a part 2

[@tanksforlooking5576]

This is such a good idea. Great video, love it

[@memeboi6017]

nice thing about black ghost knifefish is that they are actual knifefish, clown knifefish aren't actually part of the group. (if you don't already know, electric eels are also an actual knifefish, so you can think of them as mini electric eels too)

[@CichlidCity]

Hey man, it has been a while since I've been on youtube. Just getting back into the grind. Excited to see you are still pushing out great content!

[@dwsdarius]

Thank You!

[@Cichlids23]

Nice video and options D

[@dwsdarius]

Thank You

[@antsfrance9999]

Another smaller option for a gar is the celebes halfbeak.

[@albertdeboer1838]

Very good topic! Thank you.

[@IsabellaM._]

Thank you! Very interesting!

[@danielleaurora9828]

Yo, this video is Tight asf!!! Your fish are beautiful, your tanks are clean and the music is banging... more videos of you cleaning your tanks without a shirt please 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️😎 no but seriously, nice video.

[@dwsdarius]

Lol, thank You!

[@litoloco4fish]

Man those peacocks are huge

[@dwsdarius]

They are growing nicely!

[@shesellsfish]

Awesome alternatives! 👍💕👍

[@officialrobertcenox]

Any small predatory species that is easy to breed ?

[@TobyCreates]

Ooh, I think I’ll do a mini monster tank in my 40 gallon...

[@crowwingbound3101]

What do you think of Bala sharks

[@dwsdarius]

Think thing about them is that they are schooling fish...so you'd need a group of at least 5....meaning huge tank

[@crowwingbound3101]

@@dwsdarius I have 2 in a 75 gallon with 15 tiger barbs, 2 albino tiger barbs 2 glow-in-the-dark tiger barbs, 4 spotted catfish I don't know their real name, 4 angelfish, one giant pleco. 2# 3-spoted powder blue gouramis.

[@kathleenwhite9741]

Super responsible video!!! Thank you Sooo much for making it! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@dwsdarius]

Thank you for watching!

[@888fluffy]

Good video! I'd love to recreate diy joey's 1200gallon with butterflyfish instead of arowanas and hillstream loaches instead of sting rays. It would be adorable

[@PullingYourStrings]

It's 2000 gallon!

[@dwsdarius]

That would be cool with a cubed tank

[@2BigFooted]

@@PullingYourStrings he made a cheap 1200gallon tank and then got rid of it after a couple months.

[@PullingYourStrings]

@@2BigFooted ooooh, right. That one.

[@wolfmania10]

It won’t work because butterfly are warm water and hate current and hillstream are cold water and need current

[@madfishdiva]

Great information. Monster fish require monster tanks.

[@jackenglish9826]

Nice! Can you do a monster fish guide??? I'm interested in a Giant gourami for my 300g 5x3x2.5 heated pond

[@rayluckman9324]

Maybe if u only put in the gourami

[@aquanaturalist4427]

I've been face-to-face with adult giant gouramis and the dimensions of that pond are not going to be near enough you're talkin to fish that can easily reach 2 feet long

[@dwsdarius]

The giant gourami's aggression is unexplainable...just 1 in that pond would be the safest way to go

[@superdragon3060]

@@aquanaturalist4427 red tail giants(the one im getting) gets 18" and giants get 22" usualy a 8x4ft Is the minimum For a normal gg

[@top_mf_n_here1806]

Wow great video, a lot of people like myself love moster fish but can only get our hands on a 125 gallon. This gives us options without rehoming are fish when they get too big.

[@dwsdarius]

Thank You!

[@tjnoob5392]

Great vid

[@yungadub9372]

Ive seen guppie live with parrana and their was fry kept with em blew my mind

[@dwsdarius]

Theirs a video of a tank with pirahna and neon tetra....its amazing how they coexsist like that!

[@henklenting2821]

I'd say a freshwater parrot fish is a nice similar looking alternative to a giant gourami

[@dwsdarius]

Yes that personality is similar too

[@vxch1]

Could you do it for the peacock bass

[@fishmansf4]

Maybe some smaller sunfish or cichlids.

[@IceBoxRo]

European perch

[@vxch1]

Thanks new some people would help

[@charleswild1359]

Buenos Ares tetras have a feeding pattern simular to parahnas, also.

[@dwsdarius]

Yes they do...vicious eaters

[@xellossdio2720]

I like that idea of nano monster fist tank =]

[@dwsdarius]

Yes I might try it myself

[@rognogtauie2.049]

Nice suggestion you got there

[@kinnikuzero]

For stingrays Hystrix don't get big but they're a bit hard to find

[@MotörheadMickey]

Here's what I'm thinking to put in a little 30l tank: 6 chili Rasbora 1 pea puffer I know this is a risk but if I'm gonna plant it all up and add the puffer last I'm hoping it'll work out. Little, mini monster and some nimble chilis. If it does work, that'll look amazing. Yellow and red. Dark sub and greenery all around. Diffuse the light a little bit, low tech set up. Bob's your uncle!

[@dwsdarius]

Definitely sounds like it would look awesome!

[@NAMEERKLIFTS]

I would leave out those rasboras

[@paulsavchuk2381]

Have you kept a giraffe catfish

[@dwsdarius]

No, they get huge though

[@MrKnife69]

What is that red-orange fish with a hump on its head?

[@dwsdarius]

Red Devil

[@TheTone37]

Serpae Tetras and Tiger Barb's are also a good alternative to the Piranhas 😎

[@fishmansf4]

I had serpae tetras and i can agree with you. Not as aggressive but look similar.

[@BrandonSmith-kc8np]

Thanks man keep pumping out the predator fish videos, I'm planning on getting a 250g predator amazon tank, any fish ideas? Preferably ones that wont out grow it

[@dwsdarius]

Their are a couple of nice choices coming from the amazon river including a school of hujeta gar, that sized tank can easily fit a larger species of pike (just remember that they can be aggressive), basket mouth cichlids (caquetaia species), Lima shovelnose catfish, Festae cichlid (not from amazon river but south American, female best for minimum aggression), ghost knife, Oscar cichlid

[@BrandonSmith-kc8np]

@@dwsdarius none of them would outgrow the tank?

[@wawo8358]

Brandon Smith Oscars usually grow 10-16 inches which is small enough for a 250 Ghost knife fish depends on its species Black Ghost knife are more common and less aggressive but only grow 16-24 inches or more but they grow so slow as soon as they reach 8 inches(well atleast mine did) The rest i dont know

[@aquanaturalist4427]

Not necessarily a predator but the striped Raphael catfish grow relatively large at 9 in has an awesome attitude and nothing you put in there's going to mess with it

[@dwsdarius]

The biggest fish on that list is the lima shovel nose growing to 18", which I believe is okay in a 250 gallon. The question is who can you mix, and how many...that can be challenging because you have to balance aggression and growth rate so that no outgrows the rest and kill/eat them. Also even though they all can live in that tank size, definitely not all at the same time, when you pick you fish always imagine adult size

[@gordonramsay1637]

How do you spell the gar alternative

[@zwellers]

Pike characin

[@dwsdarius]

Hujeta gar, rocket gar and pike characin are all common names

[@gordonramsay1637]

Thank you

[@darklin9]

I own a pair of golden killifish, will share pics or a video soon, waiting for the driftwood to cure... there will a branch of popping out of the water so they can jump and catch their food. Trying to get a full natural setting. The tank size 3ft in length, 18' in width and 2ft in height. ;) Hope everything works out as planned.

[@dwsdarius]

That sounds awesome!

[@rognogtauie2.049]

Pike gar are good idea.

[@colinmccavana9579]

Butterfly fish are in the arowana family, 'boney tongues' along with arapima .

[@raycooper2287]

Great info...but you should have the names of fish in writing as well.

[@fishlife1013]

The giant gourami can be very calm as long as they are on a vegetarian diet

[@seth1571]

Bro thank you, you have no idea how much I have bin looking for this type of video!

[@Arachloroptera]

Can kissing Gourami be kept with rainbow sharks?

[@dwsdarius]

They both can be territorial, so you'd need at least a 55 gallon, but yes they can be kept together

[@Arachloroptera]

@@dwsdarius Hi DWS Darius Thank you for the prompt response what are the best companions for a lone kissing Gourami kept as a wet pet. Would Buenos Aires Tetras go well with them?

[@aperson336]

African butterfly arawana and even arapaima are all related (they are all bony tongue fish)

[@aquanaturalist4427]

I always thought scissortail Rasbora we're a good mini replacement for payara

[@dwsdarius]

Now that you mention in...I see the resemblance

[@grapesvine]

I feel like tiger barbs and skirt tetras look like tiny piranhas.

[@VestedUTuber]

Oh god, Tiger Barbs... Those guys are monsters in their own little way. You can't keep them in a peaceful community, they have to be housed with other semi-aggressive fish because otherwise they'll pick off everything else - even fish more than twice their size.

[@fishmansf4]

African butterfly fish are also related to Arowana.

[@user-zv7ov4rm5w]

Man your fun

[@twotales7337]

Music?

[@kneesocks4056]

Cradles- Sub Urban

[@kneesocks4056]

Is even in the description

[@twotales7337]

@@kneesocks4056 thank you ✌🏽

[@westoncase5447]

Really cool video💯

[@subhashissamal9182]

You forgot that alternative for a snakehead is Betta macrostoma

[@dwsdarius]

That's true, so similar

[@aperson336]

The smallest pickerel get around 1 ft so they are quite big but they are real pike not cichlids do your research before getting one

[@CosmicWaffle26]

14:29 I have those I love them

[@abdullahalsabbah1020]

What about the peacock bass

[@dwsdarius]

I searched...couldn't find a mini version

[@tashfiqmannan]

decent vid, that last rec was horrible tho lol I'd say go for a smaller species of Brycon for the dorado or if you're lucky there are some Japanese cyprinids that look and act just like the dorado but only grow 3-4 inches. would also include exotics any actual monster lover would also appreciate such as scomberoides payara, goonch suchus, platysilurus mucosus, swordspine snook, smaller species of snakehead, red tail barracuda etc and smaller species of bichir and armored catfish.