Payara and Peacock Bass and Tiger Shovelnose

Question
Hello Sir

I know these fish grow two feet or more I read online they are found in the same location in the wild but are they compatible if I got youg ones to grow up together in a very large system like a 400 or 500.  Or is the Payara going to beat up the peacock bass and Tiger shovelnose.  Can the Payara survive by itself or will it need a buddy because the website said it was tetra related but then again my friend owns one pirahna and that is a tetra family too, it was fine.

Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Thomas,
 There is no way to know if they will be compatible for sure. It depends on many, many things including the individual nature of the fish much more so than will species x live with species y.  
No matter what you decide to do, it is essential that your tank have a LOT of structure such that the individuals are not constantly running into each other.  If they are, I can pretty much guarantee that one will kill the others.   Think carefully before getting these fishes. The total cost you are going to spend for food for them over the years is very large (many people do not think about that) and is much larger than the cost of the fish or even the tank.  

 Almost no fish needs a buddy.  That is a human concept that doesn't apply to most fishes. Large predatory fishes like shovelnose catfishes only like buddies for lunch.

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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