What would make cichlids growth stunt

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rich4297

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Sep 18, 2012
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NJ
Just wondering what everyone's opinion is on the subject. How long would it take for most sa/ca species to obtain full growth?


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Just wondering what everyone's opinion is on the subject. How long would it take for most sa/ca species to obtain full growth?


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It kinda depends on the fish and its genetics.

But the big things in your control that make a difference Are, size of tank, water quality and a quality of diet.



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Any other thoughts. Maybe more in detail. No offense to the first responder, thank you for your input I just wanted more in depth details. Thank you again


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Any other thoughts. Maybe more in detail. No offense to the first responder, thank you for your input I just wanted more in depth details. Thank you again


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No offense taken. Its just one of those questions that difficult to answer. Ive had various fish over the many years of doing this, some the same breeds and some grew much faster then others. This is the genetics part that plays. Also when you say South/Central american Cichlids that leaves a very very large group of different fish. All of them do grow differently. No real average among them. Did you have specific breeds in mind? This would help narrow down some of the possibilities. How large of a tank will they be in? How often will water changed happen? how much water will you change out per change? What would you be feeding them?
 
It's hard to be specific because it's such a general question. Different species require different things: for instance, a large weekly water change and twice daily feeding may grow a giant Central American, but it'd probably stunt a young discus.

Usually, optimal tank size, clean water (via frequent water changes), and a varied diet will help a fish reach its full potential -- that is, the potential afforded it by the genetics it has.

The quickest way to stunt a fish is to let the water quality slip (high nitrates and DOCs) or not provide it with proper nutrition.
 
All other things being equal, fish will grow larger in a bigger tank. A few years ago, a friend of mine acquired a large batch of krobia guianaensis fry. He gave groups to me and another friend. Between the three of us, I put mine in a large tank from the start (a 120). The others grew them out in progressively larger tanks. First 20's then 30's, etc. One friend ultimately moved them to a 150. The other to a 55. Although all the fish reached their adult size, my fish put on size much quicker. I'd say that other factors were equal (weekly water changes, good diet, normally stocked tanks).


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Ok thanks to all. I'm questioning about jaguars, jack dempseys, green terror or saum, and Cubans on the growth rate. I have multiple tanks but the one in question is a 150 gallon. It has a 30 gallon wet dry sump with two overflows packed with bio and a eheim 2217. I do a minimum 50% wc every Friday. With a smaller one on at least every other Tuesday. I feed NLS once a day sometimes mostly weekends twice a day. U supplement with frozen krill and blackworms a couple times a week. Temp is around 78-80. Water is amm 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10-20ppm. Stock as of now is

1 5" jaguar
1 4.5" Oscar
1 4" jack Dempsey
1 4-5" saum
1 4" bay snook
1 4" salvini
1 4.5" datnoid
1 3-4" cuban
1 5" synisplilum
1 4" paratilapia polleni
1 3" neon jewel
1 3-4" pink convict
1 5" sailfin pleco
3 3" filament barbs

I know it's a lot but I'm trying to get rid of some of the stock. In the end I want

Jag female

Oscar

Jack Dempsey female

Saum male

Salvini female

Datnoid

Snook

Cuban female

Polleni

And the barbs I also am looking for a 300 gallon acrylic but haven't been able to find one in my area. So I guess what I'm asking am I stunting the fish by my stock list as of now. I've been trying to rehome the other fish but no luck so far. Will my end stock list work well in a 150? Sorry for all the questions. I've never had a community before and want to try for one. I've always just kept single fish or pairs. It has been working well for the past six months.


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Ok thanks to all. I'm questioning about jaguars, jack dempseys, green terror or saum, and Cubans on the growth rate. I have multiple tanks but the one in question is a 150 gallon. It has a 30 gallon wet dry sump with two overflows packed with bio and a eheim 2217. I do a minimum 50% wc every Friday. With a smaller one on at least every other Tuesday. I feed NLS once a day sometimes mostly weekends twice a day. U supplement with frozen krill and blackworms a couple times a week. Temp is around 78-80. Water is amm 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10-20ppm. Stock as of now is

1 5" jaguar
1 4.5" Oscar
1 4" jack Dempsey
1 4-5" saum
1 4" bay snook
1 4" salvini
1 4.5" datnoid
1 3-4" cuban
1 5" synisplilum
1 4" paratilapia polleni
1 3" neon jewel
1 3-4" pink convict
1 5" sailfin pleco
3 3" filament barbs

I know it's a lot but I'm trying to get rid of some of the stock. In the end I want

Jag female

Oscar

Jack Dempsey female

Saum male

Salvini female

Datnoid

Snook

Cuban female

Polleni

And the barbs I also am looking for a 300 gallon acrylic but haven't been able to find one in my area. So I guess what I'm asking am I stunting the fish by my stock list as of now. I've been trying to rehome the other fish but no luck so far. Will my end stock list work well in a 150? Sorry for all the questions. I've never had a community before and want to try for one. I've always just kept single fish or pairs. It has been working well for the past six months.


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