been doing research on these guys for awhile and thinking about getting one but before i do i would like to know how fast they grow. Can anyone help me out ?
growth rate of hoplarchus psittacus?
- Thread starter basketball45
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Attached is an old Liebel article, seems to represent a 4 year period of growth to first spawn. Mileage probably varies.
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=67
Where are you getting yours?
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=67
Where are you getting yours?
i received mine september of 2008 at .5" after hatching i think march or april of 08. by christmas the were 3-4". after going in the 125g for a few months, mid 2009 mine was pushing 10", i sold the others in march at about 5". i have one of my original 5 and JD took the other 4. i believe two have spawned numerous times for him. as small fry they ate crushed sinking pellets, flakes and pellets. now she eats about anything. temps have always been about 82F with weekly to week and a half 50%-75% water changes. her growth has slowed and i'd say she's 11". JD says the male is a bit larger now
basically within a year with waterchanges and good food you will have a 10" fish.
basically within a year with waterchanges and good food you will have a 10" fish.
They are very fast growing Cichlids. Next to my Doviis I think they may be the fastest growing Cichlid I have kept. I have had them twice once back in the 1970's when they were very new to the hobby and wild caught. That pair grew to about 16 to 18 inches and I kept them again in the late 90's till just about two years ago. That pair grew to about 14 inches. Be very careful. This fish is very susceptible to hole in the head and needs at least a 200 gallon tank and bi weekly water changes of 70% to do well.
Mel O;3896870; said:
This is the story of my life lately. I'm having this problem with Uaru and now I'll probably have it with my psittacus as well.
FYI, I just got mine a few weeks ago from Ken Davis as tiny babies, barely 1", and they've already doubled in size. They never stop eating. Their stomachs get so swollen that it looks like they swallowed a marble. I was afraid they'd get a blockage and die, but so far, so good. They are the most voracious eaters I've ever owned as far as SA cichlids go, even moreso than my uaru which I thought were eating machines.
HITH is not nearly as bad with psittacus as with Uaru. If you let your nitrates get much above 15-20 for any period of time you will have issues. Keep the tank clean and you will not.
As for growth mine all range from 10-14". Recantely moved them and was able to measure them to be sure. Female 10, female 10.75, female 13.5, male 14". As Sean said they were born in April 2008 and are already that big. They grow very fast. Oscar like growth on them.
As for growth mine all range from 10-14". Recantely moved them and was able to measure them to be sure. Female 10, female 10.75, female 13.5, male 14". As Sean said they were born in April 2008 and are already that big. They grow very fast. Oscar like growth on them.
