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dovi question

5K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  bhone20 
#1 ·
I know dovi are the meanest cichlid I have researched.That is the main reason a buddy of mine wants one. We are still searching for a fish store that sells them. He has resently inherited a bit of money and wants to splurge on a 230 gallon tank. It comes with its own built in filter.It looks just like a mini version of my pool filter. I think it said 1000 or 1300 gph filter.It has a splitter in the piping that extracts water from under the gravel and the other intake is split into 4 inlets on the upper part of the tank spread out evenly along the back. Will that size tank be large enough for a dovi. I know they get BIG!!!.

He doesn't have a comp,so I will relay the info to him. THANK YOU!!
 
#2 ·
What are the dimensions of the tank? Unless it has some really goofy dimensions, I think it should be big enough, probably even for a pair. If he's just looking to keep a single fish, he should be aware that the females stay much smaller (about the size of a large oscar) but the males can get over two feet in length. 230 gallons should still be plenty even for a fish that size, though. They also will kill pretty much any other fish you try to keep with them. They're large, heavy fish so you should make sure that you have some sort of guards on filter intakes and heaters so the fish doesn't break them. It might be best to get an in-line heater since there's already that big filter and that way the fish can't break the heaters. Plants, even plastic ones, are probably a bad idea unless maybe you glue the plastic plant bases to the bottom of the aquarium. Rocks and driftwood would also be best glued down and rock formations glued together to keep the fish from knocking them down and breaking something. Just to be sure, it would probably be a good idea to get a bunch of egg crate from Home Depot or something and cover the bottom of the tank with it before adding substrate. This will prevent the bottom of the tank from breaking if the fish knocks over a big rock or something like that.

Dovii cichlids are *very* cool fish though, so it'd be awesome if you could post pics of the setup and of the fish when he gets it!
 
#3 ·
well, I don't know the demensions of the tank,but I did stand next to it.I am 5'4", and the tank has a stand it sits on and holds the filter.it is about 1-1 1/2 feet tall,The top of the tank is about even with my shoulder,and it is probly at least 5 feet long.The next time we go to the store, I will try to remember to measure.I always carry a tape measure in my truck.Hopefully,we will find a place that sells Dovis.and I will be sure to take a bunch of pics!!!
 
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