ive heard a few times that breeding cichlids at an early age makes them not grow to their full potential size, is this true? is it because of the hormones in the water? and if so then the only way to avoid it would be not to keep a pair together.
breeding creates stunted growth?
- Thread starter dmopar74
- Start date
A few years ago I was growing out 6 angels to breed. Once i had a pair starting to spawn I put them in their own 20H. They were the two largest out of all their siblings in their 55g. I noticed after their 3rd spawn that their siblings have actually grown larger then them (Tanks were next to each other so it was easy to compare). The 20g got a 5g water change every other day as the 55g got a 5g everyday. They were both fed the same food. Ever since i had those angels I've always thought that cichlid growth is not stopped but reduced. Just my experience with it.
With south and central American cichlids, I would suggest that once they start spawning, all the energy of the fish goes toward spawning and raising fry, little or none of the fish's (females mostly) energy goes toward growth after that point.
My $0.02
My $0.02
dmopar74;3173212; said:ive heard a few times that breeding cichlids at an early age makes them not grow to their full potential size, is this true? is it because of the hormones in the water? and if so then the only way to avoid it would be not to keep a pair together.
I think eventually the fish will grow to its potential. However, I do feel that their rate of growth would be hampered if you start breeding them at an early age.
Do they become stunted over the years -- I don't think so. They might grow slowly compared to a fish that was not kept with opposite sex fish.
I also know that breeders (guppies and other live bearers) in asia separate males from females at an early age to give broods of larger average size.
I agree w/ BigPic. Mine often pass on food for weeks in order to defend a brood which gives the non breeding fish a huge leg up.