Aulonocara growth rate?

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NewETown

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 5, 2008
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Washington
So I didn't want to hijack another thread, but basically someone said they got an Aulo. baenschi at around 2" and 6 months later he's 4"? I'll double check when I turn the lights back on, but my male Aulonocara jacobfreibergi doesn't have anywhere near that growth rate.

I thought it was a bit odd that he was being out-paced by frontosas (at least my big dominant male)...but still I'm kind of worried about him. He looks great. Good color, fins look awesome, afaik nobody messes with him. He also has plenty of space to hide and eats like a pig.

Anyone know what the deal is? Do the Jaco's just grow slower than the other Aulonocaras? I'm really at a loss. It's not like he's not growing, but both him and the two females are growing extremely slow.

Since I'm sure diet will come up, they get a mix of Dianichi (Ultima and color and some new sample thing I got), NLS, and a frozen cocktail I make for them (mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, blood worms and some veggie thing all mashed together).

Water changes weekly at about 20%, they're in a heavily filtered 65 gallon tank.Water parameters are great, everyone seems happy and I haven't had any deaths in months (minus a neolamprologus murder, but that doesn't count).
 
It is a variety of factors that affect growth rates. Some change water avery other day to increase growth. Feeding multiple times per day. 2" in six months is not unheard of. They should definitely be growing faster than fronts. Fronts are slow growers.
 
Pharaoh;2922375; said:
It is a variety of factors that affect growth rates. Some change water avery other day to increase growth. Feeding multiple times per day. 2" in six months is not unheard of. They should definitely be growing faster than fronts. Fronts are slow growers.
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I agree. 1" every three months is a good growth rate. Feeding multiple times a day and good water quality are important. Over filtration is a good thing. You can never over filter a tank really. Fronts shouldn't grow faster than the Aulonacara though. Something is up there. I did like to keep my Fronts around 9.4 pH and my Malawi tanks were all at 8.4 pH. (Of course the Fronts are all I have left). It's puzzling for sure. Sounds like you are doing everything right though.
 
I think the front is dominant, but it's not like the two fish pay much attention to each other. I have 3 fronts (one big dominant male, two smaller more normal growth rate guys), one good size male Red Empress (I'd say he's more dominant than the front), and a breeding pair of neo. pulcher which I'm taking out of the tank because I think they're picking on everyone else in the tank.

It's 65 gallons with plenty of filtration and good water changes so I'd say it's a good stock level.
 
Pharaoh;2922375; said:
It is a variety of factors that affect growth rates. Some change water avery other day to increase growth. Feeding multiple times per day. 2" in six months is not unheard of. They should definitely be growing faster than fronts. Fronts are slow growers.
Click to expand...


Does a water change that often affect the bacteria in the tank?
 
Most bacteria (good and bad) will be in the substrate and filter, so changing just the water probably wouldn't take too much of it away. I'd be more interested in the PH levels of a tank that has water changed that frequently.

I know that some dominant S.A. cichlids (discus specifically) release a chemical that will prevent the growth of other cichlids allowing them to continue their dominance. Frequently you'll see a tank with discus and one will be huge while the others will be significantly smaller. It's an easy way to know that the person probably doesn't change the water in that tank very often.

Does anyone know if Africans do this as well?
 
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