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So I have recently got a 125 ( standard 72 18 21 inches) since it is the largest tank possible to get since I needed it on the second floor of my house. The Lima/Elongatus has always been one of my dream fish and was wondering since it seems like everyone agrees that the ones sold in the US on get the be 11-12 inches that I could keep one for life in a 125. Thanks in advance

Ever since I noted that a good portion of our 20 LSN has exceeded the 12" by far, I am not so sure of that supposition that almost all we get are elongatus and not lima.

I think 125 gal could be adequate for at least a couple of years but I'd advise to be by then in a position to upgrade or find a new home if the fish starts to outgrow the tank.

How fast do they grow, I don't want to keep a fish in a tank that is to small so I will probably not get one now but if they it takes like 2-3 years for them to get over 12 inches I can't imagine myself not getting multiple bigger tanks by then, so maybe in that case I will consider it.

Many people have made the mistake of buying fish which will outgrow their current tanks, caiming to get a bigger one.

And mostly this is a genuine intention. Sometimes the money is already on the bank. But then the TV gets stolen, or the car crashed - long story short, the money is redirected to something more urgent, and the fish will have to stay in a tank too small for it.

I would say - don't buy fishes for future tanks, unless the tanks have already been ordered. During this period, of a few weeks, the arrival of the tanks is a certainty.

I think they are both sound approaches. It's a grey area IMHO and everyone's personal call. We learn best, or even I'd say go as far as to say mostly, only from personal experience.

I was thinking about maybe an ornate pim instead, anyone have experience with keeping just one?

I read of accounts of others who kept a single specimen and in their opinion the fish did ok.

I have never kept just one, so can't say. I can say that they always stick together.

It must be some 15 years ago, that I found a mixed group of 2 Pimelodus species in a petshop. There must have been over 30 of them, and I did like them. Think the were maculatus and one from the cochui complex

Not knowing anything about them apart being American, and seeing they were around 15 cm (6 inches) I thought they did keep each others company.

I took 3 home to a 4 meters long tank (in such a tank you can afford not to know how long fish will grow) and the first they did was go to 3 different hiding places. I never saw them together again.

It seams to me like these pimelodus are solitary, unless with a lot, and perhaps the small tank in the shop also helped keeping them together.

Generally speaking, if fish stick together, they prefer to have company. Like the limia Victor wrote about.

Thanks for the help guys I acutally decided to go with one of these https://www.aqua-imports.com/shop/produ ... olyroides/
They seem like mini peaceful wyckii catfish which is awesome. Hopefully it arrives soon so I can get pics for you guys.

That'd be a first for me to see this fish. I didn't expect that. Borneo Dragon (or Rooster) Catfish (Hemibagrus olyroides).

you should get a group of them Viktor.

No, thanks! First, it's a cool fish but too small for my focus. Second, I don't think you can keep them as a group past several inches or so. Third, my tanks are maxed out as is. If you do a good job documenting your ownership, I think I will be content learning from you.

I will be sure to keep you updated Idk when the order will come, since the forecast for south east pa is still low 20s for foreseeable future