How to make dovii grow faster?

[waytoodeep03]

Ive had a dovii since juvie stage at 3 inches. It has been 8 months and he is only 6 inches.

i was expecting more growth from this guy by now. I do weekly water changes at 50%. Temp is st 80 degrees.

he is coesxisting with two larger parrots, 1 mbuna that is 6 inches and a common pleco that is 15 inches. They are all in a 175 gallon.

How do i get this guy to grow faster? Live feedings? More water changes? Remove the tankmates?

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Is it a female?
Is it slightly stressed because of other larger more dominant fish in the tank.
Stress will slow down growth, more than anything imo
Provide good quality water and a stress free environment.
My red red Dovii has gone from 1 inch to 10inch in a year, I'm happy with that. Probably about average.

 

[duanes]

I have found that every other day 40% water changes do more for growth than just about anything else (my normal routine) , although every day 40% would be better.

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Daily water changes are exelent if you have a automated water change system. If not messing around with hoses in the tank every day can frighten and put extra stress on jevenil fish. I would prefer to lightly stock the tank and save the water change enthusiasm until the fish get some size one.
Once your Dovii gets a good size daily water changes will not frighten it, in fact it will probably attract the hose and your hand lol.
End of the day good clean water and a stress free environment.

 

[Milingu]

I think Duanes and Andy are right with the water changes. I heard from a guy who observed and caught dovii in Honduras, that they eat so much during the dry season that it is not possible to feed so much in the aquarium because you can't change the water fast enough to keep nitrates low enough.
And these doviis grew way faster than any dovii in the aquarium.

 

[dan518]

I agree with both Andy and Duane but one thing in these discussions that is hardly ever directly talked about is oxygen levels.
Commercial fisheries try and keep there devolved oxygen levels at 100% saturation. Fish have far better growth at this level and there also better able to utilise nutrients and calories meaning you get better growth for less food. Feeding less means your water quality will be better also the nitrogen cycle uses alot of oxygen so reducing this means more oxygen for the fish.
In short 100% saturation gives you better growth, better food conversion rates, less ammonia, nitrites, nitrate also leading to healthier fish.