Hello I have been interested in these two cichlids for some time now. I am trying to get some info on the growth rate for these two species before i choose which one to get. I read that they need warm temps and a vegetable based diet. In my research I’m getting conflicting info on growth rates some say they grow really slowly others say they grow really fast, especially the black nasty. So my question is how fast do these fish really grow.
Black nasty and Cuban cichlid
- Thread starter supercichlidlvr
- Start date
My female Haiensus went from about 1" to nearly 10" in about a year (could have been slightly longer), took the male about the same time to reach 12" or more, and he grew slowly after that, reaching about 15".
In nature their natural waters are quite warm mid 80sF, and seem to require those warm temps to digest food, or they m bloat. Omnivores, like many relatively primitive species.
As a pair they maxed out a 6ft tank, and allowed no tank mates.
The tetracanthus only topped out about 10" for the male, 6" female, they had a 125 gal 6ft tank all to themselves.
I fed both species, a high in Spirulina pellet, and did 30-40% water changes every other day.
Great species to keep, as long as you don't expect them to live in a community of other cichlids
I tried growing them out at first in a community setting, and lost my first dozen.
In nature their natural waters are quite warm mid 80sF, and seem to require those warm temps to digest food, or they m bloat. Omnivores, like many relatively primitive species.
As a pair they maxed out a 6ft tank, and allowed no tank mates.
The tetracanthus only topped out about 10" for the male, 6" female, they had a 125 gal 6ft tank all to themselves.
I fed both species, a high in Spirulina pellet, and did 30-40% water changes every other day.
Great species to keep, as long as you don't expect them to live in a community of other cichlids
I tried growing them out at first in a community setting, and lost my first dozen.
Wow that is a lot of growing for one year. Your male grew 11 inches in one year that’s awesome. Have you grown out other males do the all grow this fast. Why do some seem to grow so slow.My female Haiensus went from about 1" to nearly 10" in about a year (could have been slightly longer), took the male about the same time to reach 12" or more, and he grew slowly after that, reaching about 15".
In nature their natural waters are quite warm mid 80sF, and seem to require those warm temps to digest food, or they m bloat. Omnivores, like many relatively primitive species.
As a pair they maxed out a 6ft tank, and allowed no tank mates.
The tetracanthus only topped out about 10" for the male, 6" female, they had a 125 gal 6ft tank all to themselves.
I fed both species, a high in Spirulina pellet, and did 30-40% water changes every other day.
Great species to keep, as long as you don't expect them to live in a community of other cichlids
I tried growing them out at first in a community setting, and lost my first dozen.
Also I have a five foot 120 I guess the Haitian will grow to large if males normally grow as fast as your male grew. I may just do the Cubans who do instead.My female Haiensus went from about 1" to nearly 10" in about a year (could have been slightly longer), took the male about the same time to reach 12" or more, and he grew slowly after that, reaching about 15".
In nature their natural waters are quite warm mid 80sF, and seem to require those warm temps to digest food, or they m bloat. Omnivores, like many relatively primitive species.
As a pair they maxed out a 6ft tank, and allowed no tank mates.
The tetracanthus only topped out about 10" for the male, 6" female, they had a 125 gal 6ft tank all to themselves.
I fed both species, a high in Spirulina pellet, and did 30-40% water changes every other day.
Great species to keep, as long as you don't expect them to live in a community of other cichlids
I tried growing them out at first in a community setting, and lost my first dozen.
I believe more than anything else, growth has to do with water changes.
Substances such as hormones, and waste products such as nitrate that cannot be filtered out, need to be removed and diluted as much as possible to promote good growth.
This is why I tend to do every other day, or at times, even daily water changes when possible.
Of course good nutrition, and genetics play a major role, but one of the easiest things for the aquarist to control, is water quality.
He was about half grown in this shot.
Substances such as hormones, and waste products such as nitrate that cannot be filtered out, need to be removed and diluted as much as possible to promote good growth.
This is why I tend to do every other day, or at times, even daily water changes when possible.
Of course good nutrition, and genetics play a major role, but one of the easiest things for the aquarist to control, is water quality.
He was about half grown in this shot.
So you had two males how long did you have this one, and how big did this one get. How big is he in the picture.I believe more than anything else, growth has to do with water changes.
Substances such as hormones, and waste products such as nitrate that cannot be filtered out, need to be removed and diluted as much as possible to promote good growth.
This is why I tend to do every other day, or at times, even daily water changes when possible.
Of course good nutrition, and genetics play a major role, but one of the easiest things for the aquarist to control, is water quality.
He was about half grown in this shot.
The one in my hand was about 12" at the time of the shot, he is the one in all shots.
I had them about 5 years, during which time they had many spawns, so hundreds of progeny.
I would raise the fry until about 1-2", then most were either given away, or auctioned at my local club auctions.
During a winter power outage the female died, so I traded the male away, and haven't had haitiensus since. Still one of my favorite species, although very sensitive until about 4-5", temp must be right, and more dominant fry will intimidate their brothers and sisters into stress death.
I went thru 20 before getting the pair (meaning 18 died in the process).
I had them about 5 years, during which time they had many spawns, so hundreds of progeny.
I would raise the fry until about 1-2", then most were either given away, or auctioned at my local club auctions.
During a winter power outage the female died, so I traded the male away, and haven't had haitiensus since. Still one of my favorite species, although very sensitive until about 4-5", temp must be right, and more dominant fry will intimidate their brothers and sisters into stress death.
I went thru 20 before getting the pair (meaning 18 died in the process).
I know you and your mod friends will delete this but you are to old to be lying like this. You are one of those people that will do anything to make people do things your way. You are like the peta people you lie to have things your way. You keep telling people how to care for these fish yet you have never even raised a male Haitian to adulthood. Things you post on the internet on other sites doesn’t go away. In 2008 on another forum you said you acquired this male as a adult and placed him with the female you already had. Yet you come on here and say you raised him to twelve inches-in a year-when you really got him at twelve inches. https://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4685 you old guys need to stop the bs
If you don't want to believe me
Oh, Island in the Sun. The Dominican Republic by Alf Stalsberg ...https://www.cichlidae.com › article
Oh, Island in the Sun. The Dominican Republic by Alf Stalsberg ...https://www.cichlidae.com › article
