Fish not growing?

[RD.]

In the wild fish can go weeks without food. Ive caught about 100 fish that i have personally eaten in many many different spots and when i gutted them 90% of them had empty stomachs with like maybe a piece of bark or a piece of plant in them with an occasional tiny insect. Fish have a hard life and its very competitive so fish dont eat once a day in the wild, they eat less than that usually.

Juvenile fish in the wild, eat every day. Those that don't typically die a premature death, and certainly aren't being "caught" by fisherman. Juvenile fish have high metabolic rates compared to adults, or semi adults, which is why when one is attempting to supply optimum nutrient levels to juveniles kept in captivity they feed their juvies 3-4 times per day. A common concept utililized by commercial aquaculture for the past 100 yrs or more.

This discussion is about how the OP can attempt to gain some size on his juvie fish, not how often a mature fish in the wild consumes food.

 

[MyGiants]

You said in the wild do you think fish eat once a day then followed it up with your statement about feeding them more therefore insinuating that he should feed his fish more because wild fish eat more, which is kind of irrelevant anyways since we're talking about aquariums.

There are times in the year when wild fish don't eat. When temps drop or certain times in the day. Have you ever gone fishing and don't get a single bite? But when they are feeding they do feed everyday and more then once if available. They might not find the food they want more then once but they are constantly hunting for it. Just because they don't find it does not mean they don't want it. But were getting away from the topic.

 

[Warlock]

Juvenile fish in the wild, eat every day. Those that don't typically die a premature death, and certainly aren't being "caught" by fisherman. Juvenile fish have high metabolic rates compared to adults, or semi adults, which is why when one is attempting to supply optimum nutrient levels to juveniles kept in captivity they feed their juvies 3-4 times per day. A common concept utililized by commercial aquaculture for the past 100 yrs or more.

This discussion is about how the OP can attempt to gain some size on his juvie fish, not how often a mature fish in the wild consumes food.

There are times in the year when wild fish don't eat. When temps drop or certain times in the day. Have you ever gone fishing and don't get a single bite? But when they are feeding they do feed everyday and more then once if available. They might not find the food they want more then once but they are constantly hunting for it. Just because they don't find it does not mean they don't want it. But were getting away from the topic.

Nuff said

 

[rocky2]

any updated on the fishes how are they doin now

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Not a lot of visual changes with the Texas, just a full belly. He always loves to eat, I'm just making sure he eats more! Just did a 60% WC tonight, and can definitely tell that the tiger barbs have grown (but they get most of the food anyways so that makes sense).

The HRP is getting food regularly too, but I'm less concerned with him than with the Texas because I know the HRP is a super slow grower that won't get much bigger anyways.

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Hopefully he will grow up to look like his dad. Here is a picture of the F1 father (Carpintis "Vontehillo")

Here is dad and mom

And here's him (blurry iphone pic - he never sits still)

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Think he's got potential?

 

[pacu mom]

Okay so this is a strange question, but... I've been noticing for over a year that none of my cichlids seem to grow, at all. I do weekly 50% water changes, and both tanks are running 3 filters (AQ 110, 70, and 50 on the 55 gallon, and an AQ30, 20, and a sponge filter on my 20 long)

Here are my setups...

55 gallon

1 carpintis "vontehillo" - I've had this fish since July 14th, and he has not changed since I got him, I know the growth rate is supposed to be slow (about .25" per month), but I'm confused.

When I got him

Now

20 long

1 HRP Rio Danlii - This guy I've had since March 11th, he's lived in the 20 long since I got him, has always been the alpha fish, and has not grown either. I know their growth rate is supposed to be slow too, but still...

When I got him

Now

Also last year I had a 90 gallon (before it leaked) and had a baby tiger oscar in it (same water change schedule, running the AQ110 and an Eheim 2026), from august to january he grew 1 inch.

Does anyone have an idea as to why this is happening? I'm using city water for my tanks, and am treating my water as I introduce it. Everyone eats once a day, sometimes twice. Just really frustrating

What are the nitrate readings in each of your tanks? Are you keeping nitrates < 20ppm? High nitrates can cause stunting, and a host of other problems.

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Yes, my Nitrates are 10ppm when I test, has never been at or above 20ppm.

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Well I must say that with the extra feeding, the Texas loves it, he begs relentlessly, and stuffs himself. The red point is a little more reclusive sometimes so feeding him can be challenging, but he gets his food.