Growth Rates in Community Tanks

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ragin_cajun

ragin_cajun

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Sep 8, 2013
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South Louisiana
I have a 540 and a 125. The 540 been up for a year. Not one of the fish is 12 inches or bigger. I have a Bifa, 2 Blackbelts, 2 Argentea, a Barred Red Midas.

Why? I have a drip, nitrates always very low. I feed NLS and freeze dried krill, though not everyday. Weeks I'm outta town, they eat 1-2 times a week.

I have 2 of everything. Could 2 of every species be retarding growth?

Could hard water cause slow growth?

Or does it just take 2-3 years to grow a fish to 12-14 inches?
 
May I suggest an automatic feeder since you're away for long periods at a time. If you want them to grow, feed them. I feed mine at least once a day and my fry 3-4 times a day.
 
It takes time. If you've had them a year already trying feed them more won't do much. You'll just have more poop in the tank.
Pictures you see of hulk sized cichlids are also pictures of old cichlids.
 
Yea, the fish definitely grow. They're mostly 8-10 inch range at about 1 year old.

But I don't see "about an inch per month" at all.

I just kinda thought a 1 year old CA Cichlid is as big as he's gonna get. If y'all are telling me it takes 2 years or more for these fish to reach max size, then they're prolly good.

I thought my Midas would have grown a lot faster, though. Or my Trimac (he was getting beat on a bit, though). I once had a Lyonsi that grew MUCH faster than my Trimac or Midas.
 
From egg to 1 year for midas should be around 9 inch, there isn't really a max size as fish continuously grow even if it slows right down till they due. That is good growth Imo, ime you won't be approaching max size until 2 years old and it'll slow more at three years. The fastest growing cichlids I've kept are Oscars and midas. Oscars can hit 11-12 inch in a year but it more averagely 9-10 inch.
I think you are right on target, the dominant fish will always grow faster in a community so be prepared for some to get left behind a little.
Maybe devise an auto feeder for while your away.
 
When will some start growing a hump on their head? I thought sure outta the Midas, 2 Bifa's, and 2 Argentea, at LEAST 1 of them would start getting a hump by now.
 
Nuchal humps, are dominance displays, that are not necessarily permanent. They are simply water filled pockets in the head, and can come and go seasonally, or depending on hierarchy status. If all fish are of equal status, you may never see one, or they may all get them. And nuchals are not always found in males, when my female haitiensus ruled a tank, and was guarding fry, she sported a steeper profile than some male cichlids I've kept, and lost some of her female darkened coloration.

 
Most amphs won't really kick in until 11-12 inch ime. Grows much better if females are around too.
 
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