How fast do African grow?

[waytoodeep03]

I ask this because I bought about 4 mbuna at maybe 1" about two months ago along with some haps and peacocks and the mbuna have tripled in size in 3 months and are leaving my other fish in the dust.

Im worried that in the next few months they will be so big that I cannot add any more juvies to the tank as they might kill them. Juvies are WAYYYY cheaper than 4 " young adults in my neck of the woods. Im talking $6.99 to $35.00.


Is there a chart somewhere online that has a growth rate calculator or chart for fish?

 

[Ullopincrate]

Not aware of any charts. It varies from fish to fish. You could maybe use a grow out tank in the future for juvs. Even a larger rubber maid would work. Sooner or later it's going to happen.

 

[Otherone]

No worries.............mbunas aren't piranha, they're really tolerant of other species of african cichlids but can be more intolerant of there own kind.

I've dropped numerous one inch mbunas, haps, and peacocks into already mature tanks only had 1 disappear a demasoni but i think my bichar ate'm.

And I agree a growout tank works great!

 

[Cichlidsanders]

I am in the same boat I bought some 1.5" mbuna about a month ago, and some of them are getting close to 3" already
($4 for 2" and smaller VS. $8 for 2" - 4" or $13 for 4" and larger @ PETCO)
although my mom & pop LFS sells 4" and larger "4 for $30" on occasion!

From what I hear alot of it depends on the temperature of your tank.
Hotter tank, faster metabolism, faster growth,
but you need to feed more often. (& that gets messy!)

 

[Pharaoh]

Most mbuna will be fine with smaller juvies in the tank. Just try to find some juvies that at least big enough to not get eaten.