John, these guys are only about 15cm long, and at that size they all have the white stripe down the centre. They only lose it as they grow bigger, but yeah, hopefully they'll settle in well. It's only a newly set-up tank so I'm not getting my hopes up too much. I've got some pellets to feed them at the moment.
If they survive and grow they'll probably end up with all sorts of living prey kicking around the tank
Problem you'll have mate is that they grow damn fast and will outgrow your tank before you know it I looked in to getting some a while back and found out they still grow to maturity size no matter how big/small the tank. Best thing to do is don't feed them too much that'll slow the growth down. But awesome fish to keep.
I'm in Cairns Qld and picked them up from Dinky Di Aquariums, Aeroglen (Cairns). Cheapest in my area by a long way. Saw them in another shop same size for $25 each!!!
yeah unfortunately the tank won't stop the buggers growing one of my best mates owns an aquarium and he talked me out of buiying them as he said in a year or less I'll have to get rid of the fish as they'll be too big. I know with other fish I've had the tanks stunt the growth but not with Barra they'll grow to full maturity size which is around 55cm
You might get a bit of barney in there mate with a Jack be fun to watch them sort out who's boss. A mate had one in his tank and he said not only did it try and take his fingers every time he put them near the surface to feed it but he had some gold fish in there when he first threw it in and an hour later the Jack was swimming around with half of one in it's mouth...ha ha as you can imagine the others didn't last long.
Just killed my barra i have had in my 6ft tank for two years a couple of days ago. Bought him at 15cm in two years he grew to 69cm. He is the second one i have harvested. I solved the problem of them of them outgrowing their tank by eating them. And believe me i use to live in Darwin and they tasted almost as good as a wild saltwater one. Just had to make sure i kept the water sparkling clean(two canister filters), added no chemical whatsoever(used rain water and a bit of tap water for water changes every 2 weeks), and fed them exclusivly live fish starting with gambusias(guppys), then goldfish, then whitbait, then in the last few months i would feed a whole live herring. Awesome watching them hunt the little live fish around the tank.
You will also find as they do get older they do lose the white strip on their head, but you will always see it flare up when they know they are about to be fed, and when they are in hunting mode.
Had a Barra in a tank with an Archer fish for quite a while. Very entertaining watching the Archer spit water at flies on the tank lid and when I got bored would go to the local aquarium shop, buy the cheapest goldfish and throw them in the tank. Only a few seconds before my Barra would open his mouth and suck them in whole!
They will grow fast and will smash the glass lid if your not careful. Not really a fish for tanks.
cheers
Rosco
_0.thumbnail.JPG "nice bag")
big john
Posts: 8725
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Stress line
Nice. Hopefully they'll settle in well to their new surroundings and lose the white stress line running down the top of their heads.
What are you feeding them?
John
I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
scuttlebutt
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 24/03/06
John, these guys are only
John, these guys are only about 15cm long, and at that size they all have the white stripe down the centre. They only lose it as they grow bigger, but yeah, hopefully they'll settle in well. It's only a newly set-up tank so I'm not getting my hopes up too much. I've got some pellets to feed them at the moment.
If they survive and grow they'll probably end up with all sorts of living prey kicking around the tank
steve
From Cairns GBR
big john
Posts: 8725
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Excellent
They'll certainly hammer everything as they get bigger. Frogs are the go mate.;
John
I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
madfisher
Posts: 206
Date Joined: 10/10/07
Problem you'll have mate is
Problem you'll have mate is that they grow damn fast and will outgrow your tank before you know it I looked in to getting some a while back and found out they still grow to maturity size no matter how big/small the tank. Best thing to do is don't feed them too much that'll slow the growth down. But awesome fish to keep.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
If it is confined to the
If it is confined to the tank it will not grow into a monster, it will be stunted.
1985 Boston Whaler Outrage 18 Johnson 140hp 4stroke
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
where did you get them from
where did you get them from at that price?
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
I am surprised was there
I am surprised was there anything else in the tank?
What do you feed them? Just finished a 4x8ft pond. Might get a few!
1985 Boston Whaler Outrage 18 Johnson 140hp 4stroke
scuttlebutt
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 24/03/06
Gday guys, I'm in Cairns
Gday guys,
I'm in Cairns Qld and picked them up from Dinky Di Aquariums, Aeroglen (Cairns). Cheapest in my area by a long way. Saw them in another shop same size for $25 each!!!
steve
From Cairns GBR
madfisher
Posts: 206
Date Joined: 10/10/07
yeah unfortunately the tank
yeah unfortunately the tank won't stop the buggers growing one of my best mates owns an aquarium and he talked me out of buiying them as he said in a year or less I'll have to get rid of the fish as they'll be too big. I know with other fish I've had the tanks stunt the growth but not with Barra they'll grow to full maturity size which is around 55cm
scuttlebutt
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 24/03/06
I'm not too stressed about
I'm not too stressed about them outgrowing the tank. When it get's to that stage I'll either
1. get a bigger tank
2. sell them and get more
3. release them in a local creek
I'm thinking about getting a little Jack as well, though not sure how they'd get on together.
steve
From Cairns GBR
madfisher
Posts: 206
Date Joined: 10/10/07
You might get a bit of
You might get a bit of barney in there mate with a Jack be fun to watch them sort out who's boss. A mate had one in his tank and he said not only did it try and take his fingers every time he put them near the surface to feed it but he had some gold fish in there when he first threw it in and an hour later the Jack was swimming around with half of one in it's mouth...ha ha as you can imagine the others didn't last long.
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Just killed my barra i have
Just killed my barra i have had in my 6ft tank for two years a couple of days ago. Bought him at 15cm in two years he grew to 69cm. He is the second one i have harvested. I solved the problem of them of them outgrowing their tank by eating them. And believe me i use to live in Darwin and they tasted almost as good as a wild saltwater one. Just had to make sure i kept the water sparkling clean(two canister filters), added no chemical whatsoever(used rain water and a bit of tap water for water changes every 2 weeks), and fed them exclusivly live fish starting with gambusias(guppys), then goldfish, then whitbait, then in the last few months i would feed a whole live herring. Awesome watching them hunt the little live fish around the tank.
You will also find as they do get older they do lose the white strip on their head, but you will always see it flare up when they know they are about to be fed, and when they are in hunting mode.
scuttlebutt
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 24/03/06
Ah, you're a heartless man
haha, you're a heartless man Buz!!
steve
From Cairns GBR
Rosco
Posts: 454
Date Joined: 20/11/07
barra with archers
Had a Barra in a tank with an Archer fish for quite a while. Very entertaining watching the Archer spit water at flies on the tank lid and when I got bored would go to the local aquarium shop, buy the cheapest goldfish and throw them in the tank. Only a few seconds before my Barra would open his mouth and suck them in whole!
They will grow fast and will smash the glass lid if your not careful. Not really a fish for tanks.
cheers
Rosco