Growth rate, Cichlasoma Ornatus

[mynheers_a_pint]

Evening everyone,

I wanted to first say how excited and proud i am to have a pair of Rapp Ornatum and more so that i am based in the UK. When i ordered them, i was advised the smaller ones would travel better than the larger ones, what with them having to arrive from the US, so i went with the babies. Now, they were supposed to be 1-1.5" which would have been fine, except they are tiny- maybe 1-2cm, thus less than 1". At their current size, they need to put on atleast 1" before they are safe in my grow out and at least another 10" before they can go in my main tank. My initial hope is there are a few others who went for the small chaps from Jeff and thus, am interested to know how quick they grow. The interesting thing is that Jeff has a 16" at the moment so they obviously grow to a decent size but i really hope they grow to the first 12" quickly, or even 6" but i just don't know and there is no record of just how quickly they grow.

As cheap as they seem in the US, to have them imported even in bulk, they are still expensive in the UK so i REALLY want to make it work...

Cheers.

 

[Mel O]

I have had them for about two years and they are slow growers compared to many large Central Americans (like Dovii for example). They grow at about the same rate as Festae. Mine are now in the 8 inch range......

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

the thing is, I have heard many say that Geophagus (altifron, Dicrozoster, Brasiliensis from experience) as slow growers but the truth is that my Altifron went from 4" to 9 in a year (0.5" a month), my Dicrozoster is now at 10-11" which he has been for 18 months but it took only a year to get to 9" from just 2". Finally my Brasiliensis took 10 months to get to 12" (male) from just 2". Slow growing is relative from my experience and a fish that should grow to 16", would assumedly grow fairly quickly to circa 8". But maybe logic does not apply in this situation...

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

ive never had them, dont hold me to this but i hear they grow pretty slow,how slow i have no idea

 

[balton777]

I would take Mel's word for it because he has first hand experience with them for two years. I think you mean you have two ornatum, I'm pretty sure you don't have a pair at two cm. How much did you pay for yours? They're not cheap here in the U.S either.

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

I use pair as a quantative term.

I have given them their own 15g cube for now so that they can put on a couple of inches without any danger of being eaten by my baby Wolf fish.

Pics;

Tiiiny!

 

[balton777]

Do you mind if I ask how much they cost you?

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

wel the price is advertised on Jeff's site and I bought them as part of a bulk order from Jeff so transport didn't equate to much. They weren't cheap for the size they are but it doesn't bother me- £40ea or about $60 so only an extra $10ea for shipping to the uk!

 

[balton777]

wel the price is advertised on Jeff's site and I bought them as part of a bulk order from Jeff so transport didn't equate to much.

As cheap as they seem in the US, to have them imported even in bulk, they are still expensive in the UK

Hmmm...I was curious if he was charging more to people in the UK after reading your first statement. We pay the same price listed on his site too. Anyway though, best wishes on growing them out. I bought two Ornatums from Jeff as well and they're about 3.5" now. Keep us updated.

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

I have to buy through an agent so generally Jeff is making a profit and so is the agent but I didn't do too badly all things considered.

I hadn't actually worked it out until then..!