I have had my BGK for about 2.5-3 months now, and he doesn't seem to have grown. It is in an (6ftx15inx18in) 85 gallon aquarium with 3 medium size cichlids and 2 small cichlids and a 4 inch pleco. There is plenty of room to swim around and I don't think it would have survived this long if it wasn't getting food. It doesnt seem to be stunted or anything so what could I do to speed up the growth? All he does is hide all day in the dark spots in a cave. At night he swims freely. He isnt bullied by cichlids or atlesast he doesnt show the signs of bullying. Any diet changes to speed up growth. I understand that they have tiny mouths. I give my fish NLS cichlidae formula 3mm sinking pellets, Freeze dried tubiflex worm cubes, tetracolor color enhancing granules, frozen baby brine shrimp, and the occasional live feeders. What could I add that would be beneficial to growth in my fish overall but especially to the BGK.
BGK Diet
- Thread starter Wesley M
- Start date
Hi! I have a BGK that I have had for about a year now in a tank with a couple of bichirs. I feed them all lots of variety which contains: Tilapia and Shrimp from the grocery store, Earthworms(make sure they are pesticide free) and hikari massivore pellets. I have noticed a huge amount of growth since starting the massivore. You could also try the Hikari sinking carnivore pellets. I think they are the same formula as the massivore, but smaller in size.
I also feed them feeder guppies but I do not recommend this unless you have quarantine tanks to keep them in for a few weeks before feeding them to your BGK as they can carry disease and may kill your BGK if not quarantined properly.
They tend to grow in sudden spurts from what I have seen. Bought mine when he was 3 inches and he is now about 8-9. The food he gets most excited about is usually the earthworms, massivore and guppies. I add 50-100 guppies a week and they all disappear overnight between the BGK and my 3 bichirs he lives with.
Hope this helps!
I also feed them feeder guppies but I do not recommend this unless you have quarantine tanks to keep them in for a few weeks before feeding them to your BGK as they can carry disease and may kill your BGK if not quarantined properly.
They tend to grow in sudden spurts from what I have seen. Bought mine when he was 3 inches and he is now about 8-9. The food he gets most excited about is usually the earthworms, massivore and guppies. I add 50-100 guppies a week and they all disappear overnight between the BGK and my 3 bichirs he lives with.
Hope this helps!
First of all they don't have tiny mouths, you've just never seen yours open his. You don't state what size your BGK is, but if it is small you can always cut up the foods suggested in the post above. Also start feeding your BGK after you turn the lights out, they are much more active at night and will eat more food if available.
I bought an 8" BG that was raised on NLS 1mm.
but my geos outcompeted him for that & he started acting aggressive. he was chasing them to the food & moving them away from it with his mouth over their backs :-o
I use massivore broken into small pieces for him, put his own pile of food @ his favorite hiding area. it doesn't get swooshed away so easy.
He went into a big growth spurt on that! eats it as greedily as fresh foods.
I don't have to do that every day, as he scrounges NLS too. but massivore satisfies him, plus he's grown a LOT.
sometimes he gorges on it until belly bulges. other days eats less.
but my geos outcompeted him for that & he started acting aggressive. he was chasing them to the food & moving them away from it with his mouth over their backs :-o
I use massivore broken into small pieces for him, put his own pile of food @ his favorite hiding area. it doesn't get swooshed away so easy.
He went into a big growth spurt on that! eats it as greedily as fresh foods.
I don't have to do that every day, as he scrounges NLS too. but massivore satisfies him, plus he's grown a LOT.
sometimes he gorges on it until belly bulges. other days eats less.