New world cichlids and their growth rate

[duanes]

The biggest factor in growth rates tend to be genetics and water quality I find. Some species naturally grow fast, some grow slow. You may be able to speed up growth with "powerfeeding" or high protein foods, but this can also lead to more issues than it's worth IMO, some fish are not built to handle that much protein, and even ones that are can become bloated or blocked up when overeating. More important than this is the water quality- with all other things equal, if water is changed often enough to keep nitrates at or below 5ppm, growth will be much faster than in a tank where nitrate is allowed to creep up to say 25 or 30ppm.

Agree
I find food to be a very over rated component of growth.
As long as you are feeding a high quality prepared diet (and not some cheap kraap), all things being equal, water changes are the most important factor in good growth.

I also noticed in your other thread, you are using a bare bottom tank.
FMs, are earth eaters. The Central American version of Geophagus.
They make their living by constantly digging in sand substrate for small edibles.
Not that this is that much of a a limiting factor, but a bare bottom tank, is not their natural environment, and when expecting to get the best from your fish, providing something close to natural habitat could be important.
If you keep a fish that normally lives in rapids, in a stagnant water tank would seem rather non-healthy.
If you are keeping a betta (an oxbow, swamp, rice paddy fish) keeping it in a high flow tank would be less than ideal

 

[Toiletcar]

Not all cichlids eat the same thing. Most are omnivores, a lot are more herbivores and fewer are carnivores. All have different food requirements and good growth means feeding the right foods. Firemouths for example mostly feed on invertebrates and some algae. That is why a quality pellet is good, because they can offer the right balance for good growth. NLS is a good brand to start w/. But food alone won’t speed up growth rate. Less stress and good water parameters/conditions are what really matters in growth. Fish will grow faster in bigger tanks mostly because of that reason. And cichlids don’t need to eat as often as fish food companies recommend. Feeding less is actually better for growth. Over feeding leads to poor water conditions and fish will eat themselves to death.

 

[Deadeye]

I feed cichlid gold as a staple, with flakes, brown shrimp, mysis, and bloodworms thrown in as treats.
There is also always plants or algae for them to nibble on.

 

[cich78]

Amphilophus Citrinellus 'GoldBarred' Midas cichlid went from approximately 4" To approximately 10" in the first year (starting 11/1/17)... Has put on about an additional inch each year coming to the completion of year 4 is about 13"...... Had an initial quick growth spurt Was only a 6 week time frame between the 1st and 2nd picture and each picture after that is approximately a year apart.......

 

[cich78]

Amphilophus Citrinellus 'GoldBarred' Midas cichlid went from approximately 4" To approximately 10" in the first year (starting 11/1/17)... Has put on about an additional inch each year coming to the completion of year 4 is about 13"...... Had an initial quick growth spurt Was only a 6 week time frame between the 1st and 2nd picture and each picture after that is approximately a year apart.......

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Never refused any food I ever gave him primarily was fed massivore delight....store bought raw organic shrimp ,freeze dried krill .....

 

[Bobby2415]

Red Devil. Feed him a combo of Omega One, Hikari sinking gold, Hikari Algae Wafers, and Southern Delight Powerfeed