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I have an L190 royal that is about 5 inches. Had him for about a year with very little growth (I know they are slow growers). I was wondering what the minimum tank size would be to keep him in. There is a lot of conflicting info out there about the adult size of these fish in the home aquarium. Thanks in advance!

I have been keeping a 40cm/16" L190 in a 120x60x45cm 324 litre tank for just over a year now. In that time it has grown about 2cm (from 38cm). The tank run has been running on 2/3 large external filters and gets at least a 50-60% water change a week, usually with daily siphoning of detritus. When I can I prefer to do 1/3 water change every day or so.

I would prefer it to be in a larger tank and would suggest the minimum (as they should be able to get a little larger) should be along the lines of 180x80x60. But with these fish, width should be prioritised over length and height. Water volume is also critical to allow stability.

I also have a community of (2) L190 and (9) L027 with sizes between 14cm and 22cm in a 150x50x70cm 525 litre. With a similar filters (+ pressurised pond filter) and water change regime. In the past 18 months I have recorded a growth of between (about) 4 and 7cm. So this suffices for growing juveniles and sub adults.

As for their maximum size attained in aquariums, that will always been open to debate. The largest size I have read a juvenile L190 grow, is only about 25cm/10". I personally have had one grow from about 8cm to 20cm (so far) in the 4 years I've had it. But they have the capability to grow far more. The largest L190 have seen was listed as 45cm/18" and probably more than that judging by the other similar varieties.

thanks for the reply. Ive read they can get up to 60 cm or more but really never saw any pics of one of these fish at that size which is why i had these questions. Personally i cant see it being too common for a L190 growing to two feet in the aquarium. I could see 30 cm but if it was common for them to reach this size where are all the pics or vids?
This website reports that they only reach about 14 inches or 40 cm. Perhaps the fish grows larger in the wild??

p.s. where did ya get your big royal from? Was he in a tank from a juvenile?

Bear in mind that the size in the Cat-eLog is in "standard length", which means not counting the tail-fin of the fish.

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Mats

i see thanks again

Capt Dave wrote:p.s. where did ya get your big royal from? Was he in a tank from a juvenile?

I bought it at 38cm.

yea i think i caught some info you posted on MFK. Cool plec. Do you know if he was tank raised to that size or wild caught at that size?

He was wild caught.

awsome fish. you seem to know a lot about these fish. you are very helpful to me. Thanks