This one is 7 mths old and 4.5".Was in a 10 for the first 2 mths with several of it's siblings.And has been in a 20 gal for the last 5 mths alone.Is a real glassbanger!
Grow out tank for Festae?
- Thread starter joedtr
- Start date
fishluvr12;3477369; said:
Thats funny, because my experience has been the exact opposite, I had one jump from 6" to 11+" in a matter of three or four months, and I already told the story about the others. I kept all mine (8) together in a 20 gallon tank for about 3 months and then they went into a 55 for a couple months (weekly water changes on both), and then into the pond for 6 or 7 months with water changes every two weeks.
In relation to the seperating thing, mine were all together for the year, but after being in the pond I now only have one 4" female and a 5" male left so...
Edit: Im not saying your wrong I just think its funny how different the responses about growth can be!
If you keep PRISTINE water conditions you wont have a problem with stunting your fish. That means zero ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. You could get away with a 20 gallon I think, but I would suggest a 40 breeder just for the extra space.. The bigger the tank the faster they will grow because they wont pollute the water so much, or so fast.
The other thing that is funny is that you were able to keep them togather.Mine always try to kill each other.uncwnells;3477381; said:
Thanks for the info everyone. I think I'll end up with a 40 or 55 with a divider. It's funny that as soon as everyone started talking about it the larger one got really aggressive and so I had to separate them. I think I'll also go up the water changes to twice a week.
I grew out 9 in a 75 gal. Growth rate was excellent - 1 inch per month til they were 5 inches then 1/2 per month...........however once the f's hit 5" they were laying eggs. By that time the males were 6-7"...........it was time to start giving them away to other members of this site..........the aggression was nuts. An average size for Festae nests here in this house is 2ft. so 75 gal @ less than 1 year for a pair was not gonna cut the mustard especially with fry...........thanks to some overfiltration tips they are now in a 6 footer and live with a jag, salvini, firemouth, and an insane wild caught Gold Saum. The Gold saum kicks everyones *** ................bottom line in theoroy - The larger the body of water the faster they will grow................20 gal would be a hospital tank.
Nice group of festae. Just guessing here, but the two in the left foreground look to be males? These are what mine look like now. Was there always this much difference between the males and females or did it develop later on?Otherone;3478906;3478906 said:
Agreed on about the divider. I got ahold of a 2" wild male and female from Ecuador. They are in a 150, and the they were alwyas at each other, so I had to divide. Got them at beginning of August and have put on about 1" more since then. Dont wanna lose a wild "pair"! I use Hikari Bio-Gold Plus and Hikari cichlid excel. Works great for me.
