Kelberi peacock bass growth question

[Joshuakahan]

I have two tiny kelberi, about 2 inches and I want to put them with my green snooks that are about 5.5”. Will the kelberi outpace the snooks enough to be able to put them together soon or do I have to wait until the snooks hit the size at which they slow down?

The snooks have a huge mouth and I don’t trust them with anything less than 3/4 their size.
The snooks also seem to be growing about an inch a month.
Thank you

 

[Matteus]

If you don’t trust them, don’t chance it. What I would do is lower the amount of food the snooks are getting , and feed the kels 2-3 times a day. I keep my cichlas at about 84 f and that keeps their metabolism high so I feed smaller amounts fairly often and keep their bellies rounded but not bursting huge. Lots of wc and lots of aeration and they will start to catch up in a few months.

 

[Rocksor]

Yeah, you want the kels within 1" of the snooks. Lots of water changes (so nitrates are below 10ppm) and feeding will boost their growth.

 

[Joshuakahan]

If you don’t trust them, don’t chance it. What I would do is lower the amount of food the snooks are getting , and feed the kels 2-3 times a day. I keep my cichlas at about 84 f and that keeps their metabolism high so I feed smaller amounts fairly often and keep their bellies rounded but not bursting huge. Lots of wc and lots of aeration and they will start to catch up in a few months.

Thanks, keeping the temps up won’t be an issue. I’m in Phoenix and the kelberi are in the garage and with fans the tank temps are about 86 for the summer. That’s actually how I’ve been feeding, so I’ll just stay on course

 

[Joshuakahan]

Yeah, you want the kels within 1" of the snooks. Lots of water changes (so nitrates are below 10ppm) and feeding will boost their growth.

Thank you, I do 50% weekly WC and because of evaporation I technically do 10% daily as well.

 

[L3CTR0N]

Thank you, I do 50% weekly WC and because of evaporation I technically do 10% daily as well.

Technically top-ups are not water changes becuase the nitrates and stuff still stay in the water. They don't evaporate wiht the water that is lost.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Technically top-ups are not water changes becuase the nitrates and stuff still stay in the water. They don't evaporate wiht the water that is lost.

I know, I was just messing around, they’re two inches at the moment in a 55, so the 50% is good for now