What is your draw to larger fish?

[Ambition]

I'm just curious what reasons people have behind liking larger fish like tangs, angels, and the like. While I do like most of these species, I don't get the draw to keeping them in smaller tanks (less than 6'x2' footprint). I personally find that they make a tank look smaller than it is, especially those tanks that have 6-8" active tangs!

 

[ruiny]

I agree with your size thought. But love the "larger" fish anyway.
The big colour, big personality, big movement.
I find that I tend to follow the centerpiece fish around the tank with my eyes.
That being said I do think this only goes so far.
A fish needs to not look really out of place in the tank.

anyway just my thoughts.

 

[Redhaloangel]

i think it is the color and personality of the larger fish, plus you can see it better than the smaller fish in a larger tank..

in a smaller tank small fish obviously you can see better cause its in a small tank.

IMO

 

[Allmost]

Wait, is this about keeping large fish in appropriate tank size.

or about keeping large fish in small tanks ?

I like large fish, and I got a large aquarium cause of that.

 

[jaa1456]

I think most people like large fish, unfortunately most people can't afford to keep a large tank or they don't have the room. Then you see large fish in small aquariums as a result

 

[Breadman03]

I just got a C. strigosus for my 75. I wanted a fairly large colorful swimmer for my tank that won't touch my T. maxima and it seemed to fit the bill.

I really want a P. hepatus, but don't want to fight nature's space requirements. That will have to wait until I get my dream tank.

 

[SDguy]

I'm attracted to attractive fish...some larger, some not. I can't think of a single fish I am attracted to for its size alone. Just because I am attracted to a fish doesn't mean I'll buy it. Queen angels come to mind...

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I don't know, you tell me.

I think they just look awsome. Watching them swim/move about the tank with little body movement is calming. They just seem so graceful. Where as smaller fish have to really swim in a big tank to get anywhere. But having small fish with personalities can be just as fun.

I guess it's kind of like dogs, some like big, some like small.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

I guess I am one of those folks who just likes the larger fish; angels, tangs, triggers, and groupers are my favorites. I have a fairly good sized tank (180 standard) and keep a few large fish and mostly small ones and guess I really like the big bold and active fish rather than the small ones. I also try to provide my fish the best home and really research any new prospective purchases to eliminate future problems, especially regarding size.

 

[Ambition]

I too like larger fish and reading my post again I worded it poorly.

Achilles, powder blues, emperor angels, passer angels, and other larger fish are great. While I would like one, I just can't see them in the smaller sized tanks some choose to keep them in. Like hippo tangs in a 75 gallon tank.

To rephrase my question, what is the draw to getting larger fish before you have an adequate home for them?

 

[Allmost]

well, I am sure noone wants large fish in small tank. No one sets plans that way .

so what you want to ask, seems to be " Why do ppl place large fish in small tank and not care "

and the answer is, fish is replaceable . TO THEM.

Person A likes full grown angels

person A can only afford a 75 G.

person A will put the angel in there.

of course, person A wishes he owned a 900 G reef tank attached to an outside pool ... but that's for dreams, not reality.

same thing with large dogs and small places, noone is drawn into keeping a great dane in a small place .... noone wakes up and says you know what will be nice in this smalla room ? a LARGE dog that barely fits, no, that's not how it goes.

 

[logansreef]

i like the bigger fish more, then tend to be out omre often and you dont have to search for them.
I like a mix though. Big with the small then you have fish to admire from close and from far.

 

[Rapide]

I'm attracted to attractive fish...some larger, some not. I can't think of a single fish I am attracted to for its size alone. Just because I am attracted to a fish doesn't mean I'll buy it. Queen angels come to mind...

Hear hear! Well said...
My biggest fishes are 12" Sohal and Emperer, while the smallest is a 1,5" Pinkstreaked Wrasse.
It's not the size of the wave, but the motion of the ocean, man... :dance:

 

[Curious George]

I think the OP makes a valid point. Huge fish in a smaller tank does dwarf the size of the tank. Fish act so much different when they have room to swim and stretch out. They are much calmer and act closer to the way they would in the sea. I see a lot of tanks where large fish just seem listless eventhough the tank is a 240-260.

This comes to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMiq4-Px1ow

It's a popular way to keep saltwater fish in Taiwan too. Huge colorful fish in a small tank. It sucks.

Fish tanks are supposed to be soothing, this stuff is stressful to watch.

 

[mastersonr]

I think sometimes people see a fish they fall in love with at the store and make an impulse buy without thinking about how big it will eventually get. Of course some stores will gladly sell the fish without really keeping someone from putting it in a tank that it will outgrow. Or they buy it with plans to upgrade to a larger tank. But we all know what happens to the best laid plans...

 

[Ambition]

Curious George, I couldn't agree more!

Case in point, to me the December 2012 TOTM looks dwarfed by the naso and hippo tang in the tank. Can't see how much the PBT is contributing as the main photo doesn't have it as a side shot.

 

[Rapide]

Do you know the size of that tank in the video? It doesn't look that small to me...

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I'd say it's a fairly large tank since that Vlamingi Tang is at least 12" long if not longer. I've had one before. Plus that is not a home tank but at an actual public aquarium.

The picture I posted of my tank is standing at the end and looking down the 7 foot lenght. The male Naso in there is 12" long.