Amphilophus Xiloaensis Q's

[smitty03281964]

They do range in size and though the normal might be in the ten inch range you could end up with one above and below the normal.

 

[Jason_S]

You are looking at 10-12" for males and 9-10" for most females full grown. Yours will stop growing length wise pretty soon and really start to bulk up. Most of the growth you will see after 2-3 years is girth and height. I have several of these fish and the last time I grew out some from hatching to adults it took about 2 years for any of them to reach 10". Females are also slower to spawn then other amphilophus so don't expect them to start laying at 3" like most of the others will.

This is exactly my experience with the species as well. I got the male in my avatar at 2" in feb of '09 from Rapps and it reached about 9" TL in the first year. At around 7-8" the lengthwise growth slowed tremendously and now it does not seem to be growing any longer. He is currently 11" TL.

To the OP, yours will most likely grow a little bit more lengthwise but I'd expect him to really start growing in height and girth from this point.

Also to the breeding, I also have experienced the same in that they do not breed as early as other species. I have 2 females that are 6" now that I received this past summer. Only one has ever spawned and she only laid eggs once and that was just a couple of months ago. She has not laid eggs since.

 

[xinchavoc]

This is exactly my experience with the species as well. I got the male in my avatar at 2" in feb of '09 from Rapps and it reached about 9" TL in the first year. At around 7-8" the lengthwise growth slowed tremendously and now it does not seem to be growing any longer. He is currently 11" TL.

To the OP, yours will most likely grow a little bit more lengthwise but I'd expect him to really start growing in height and girth from this point.

Also to the breeding, I also have experienced the same in that they do not breed as early as other species. I have 2 females that are 6" now that I received this past summer. Only one has ever spawned and she only laid eggs once and that was just a couple of months ago. She has not laid eggs since.

Thanks for all the great info.... Jason it was your xilo that encouraged me to get one but looks like mine isnt going to get a nuchual hump at what size did your start developing his nuchual humps?

 

[Jason_S]

Thanks for all the great info.... Jason it was your xilo that encouraged me to get one but looks like mine isnt going to get a nuchual hump at what size did your start developing his nuchual humps?

Thanks I honestly don't remember at what size the hump started growing but by 6" he and his brother were bulky and hump-headed. I've noticed with mine that if there is no competition to my male xilo then his hump is practically non-existent. However when there is another larger male in the tank with him that does provide some competition for territory then it grows much larger.

 

[xinchavoc]

My male xilo already killed 4 fish this month i moved everyrhing out except a gt pair they hold their own but he is the dominant fish i might get something more of eqyal size but he seems to outgrow every fish i put inn