Buying your first Predator Fish

[staraquarist]

I have been caring for my freshwater and saltwater tanks for a long time now - but I have never dared set into the land of predator fish keeping...I was hoping someone here could help me get started. What's a good species to get started on - and how much money can I expect to spend - working with about a 90 gal tank...for my new venture. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Full3R]

If the 90 gal is empty, my first predatory fish dunno if you'll be able to find one round your parts but barramundi are pretty hardy and easy to maintain and pretty placid to fish they cant swallow,

[DemonShark]

Or you can get an oscar! like me!

[Piker]

If the 90 gal is empty, my first predatory fish dunno if you'll be able to find one round your parts but barramundi are pretty hardy and easy to maintain and pretty placid to fish they cant swallow,
I hope you realize that a barramundi can potentially grow to 6'. Good Predatory tankmates for a 90 would be a school of Barracudas(Acestrorhynchussp.) with gars(Ctenolucius hujeta or Boulengerella maculata) for a surface dweller and some type of Pim (Pictus, Lima) cats for the bottom.

[Drumachine09]

One of my LFS has a 12 or so inch long Alligator Gar. If i had a 55, i keep him till he got too big, and then donate him to the zoo. If only...lol

[Fishguy2727]

It is better for any fish to feed them live, but are you wanting to feed live, or just a predator tank that will eat pellets? The mentioned hujeta gar would be good, I got the one at my work to eat pellets and now my cousin has it in his 90 with assorted smaller cichlids, eel, and bichirs.

[Full3R]

I want a Bichir but cant find them anywhere in Aus

[Fishguy2727]

And i am guessing the government there isn't too happy about importing a fish of the nature of bichirs.

[Full3R]

Pretty much, but the one time i have found Bichirs available it was on an internet classfied site and there was a 6" Ornate Bichir for like $300 and i was like woah, i still want pirahna

[kimmers318]

I of course, being the puffer lover that I am would look into getting a single large puffer specimen. Believe it or not there are many FW species so you don't have to deal with the brackish set up. Check those out, they love to eat!!!!