H. Pearsei growth question

[DMD123]

I have had 'Porkchop' the Pearsei since October 2012 when I got it at 5". I have read that these guys even though large dont really sexually mature until like 3yrs old. Dont know how true that is but in the time Ive had mine it has grown quickly but seems to be stuck at the 12" mark for some time now. I know growth does slow down when they get bigger but do any Pearsei owners think its maxed out at full size or will possibly grow out a bit more? It had shared a tank with two other 8" cichlids (midas, bifa) and when I got rid of them recently I think I saw a small growth spurt (maybe 1/4").

Some tank info: The Pearsei is in a 210g with two FX5's. I change the water three times a week and tankmates include Red Hook silver dollars (x7), a rhino pleco and a hopplo cat.

Here is Porkchop:




Have not sexed the fish, but would guess female. I know that limits growth a bit but not unheard of for a female pearsei to hit 14".

 

[duanes]

Nice looking pearsei.
My group hit 14" in about 3 years. They seems to be a lot like cattle, in that prefer incessant grazing.
Every other day or so, I would weigh down an entire head of romaine lettuce, and they would graze it down to nothing in about 48 hours, and they'd get thawed peas every 3rd or 4th day. Never fed anything meaty, just let them constantly graze on veggies.
Doing the same thing for a group of bocourti now, although I supplement with hair algae and duckweed that grow rampant in one of my other tanks.

 

[DMD123]

Nice looking pearsei.

Thank you, and thanks for sharing pictures too!
I have only done pellets with an occasional earthworm or pea as a treat. I have not tried any real veggies... might have to give that a try. So three years to 14" is about the same Ive read for others. So I am guessing mine is pretty much maxed out at 12" then since it it likely almost three years old now.

 

[trace]

My male has grown from 3" to 15" in a years time on a strict NLS only diet. The female from 3" to 14" in the same time. Part if this fast growth is due to them being in my 1400 gallon setup but ime they do grow at an incredible rate. Faster than any other cichlid I've kept.


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[DMD123]

My growth was fast in the first year but I have not seen much lately so I really am thinking its done growing. I know I have a tendency to 'undersize' my fish when I sell by just eye balling. As an example with the midas and bifa I just rehomed I said 6.5" fish but they measured in at 8"+ when they were caught. With this Pearsei I measured with a tape against the glass when it had its nose right up to the side so I feel accurate in saying a real 12" fish. I was just hoping for a bigger fish. Feels like a waste of a 210g tank at times, seems like it would do fine in my 72g bowfront.

 

[notho2000]

Inigo, you have a very nice fish there. My pearsei maxed out at between 12 and 14" in about three years as well. Real pigs when it comes to feeding ... always first to the food. Mine loved peas and romaine but would take most any pellet food with gusto. And the first year they rapidly grew from about 1" to ~9-10". Found them to be very similar to bocourti in their requirements ... just a little less aggressive.

 

[DMD123]

Inigo, you have a very nice fish there.

LoL, thank you.... I always forget I use that name here. Not my real name, its from the movie 'The Princess Bride'.

Thank you for sharing pictures of your pearsei too! I tried a bocourti with my pearsei for a little while. The bocourti picked on the pearsei even though it was much bigger. It did not have the same personality as the pearsei to me. Seemed a lot less personable.