I almost always grow my fish from babies. That way you can see their colors develop, their personalities expand and their natural 2-3" habits.
I am not a monster fishkeeper anymore
- Thread starter twhittle
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Same with everything else in life. Sometimes we try so hard that we forget what we are in it for.
Well I don't think buying adult fish is necessarily "wrong", I certainly appreciate the satisfaction of raising fish. The key, as you put it, is to enjoy the fish, rather than the false sense of "victory" over our peers.
Well I don't think buying adult fish is necessarily "wrong", I certainly appreciate the satisfaction of raising fish. The key, as you put it, is to enjoy the fish, rather than the false sense of "victory" over our peers.
Buying small and raising larger is the only way to go, watch as your fish develop personalities to degree. i have raised my entire current stock from around the 3 inch mark and it is so satisfiying to see the likes of my 9 inch red tail asiatic or my 10 inch red devil (buddha) or the 4 horsemen, 8 inch jags.
I fell in love with a large pair of zonatus a couple of months ago at the LFS. They wanted $100 for the pair. I really wanted to buy them but I was short on cash. Shortly thereafter they spawned at the LFS and I bought a few fry for $1.99 each.
After I got them home I kept wondering if I should have bought the pair because it is going to take such a long time for them to develop into the beauties I hope them to be. I also thought about the cost of raising them vs. the cost of the large pair.
I now am very happy with my decision! I have two of them in a 8ft. tank with some tiger barbs,gold tinfoils and columbian tetras.
I know these are not common cichlids, but I think they are pretty and hopefully will have great personlities. I can't wait for them to be monsters!
After I got them home I kept wondering if I should have bought the pair because it is going to take such a long time for them to develop into the beauties I hope them to be. I also thought about the cost of raising them vs. the cost of the large pair.
I now am very happy with my decision! I have two of them in a 8ft. tank with some tiger barbs,gold tinfoils and columbian tetras.
I know these are not common cichlids, but I think they are pretty and hopefully will have great personlities. I can't wait for them to be monsters!
I hate buying peoples large fish. 90% of the time they look like trash because the previous owner couldnt take care of them...and so giving it back to the store was the final straw. Not to mention they are outrageously expensive.
I just like growing my own out, because I know that in the end they will have better finnage, no hole in the head ect...
And dont worry...I still consider the guys you have monsters...they are just babies.
I just like growing my own out, because I know that in the end they will have better finnage, no hole in the head ect...
And dont worry...I still consider the guys you have monsters...they are just babies.
Personally I don't see why your oscars and EBJD can't be your 'monsters'! They have enough personality for any of those super aggressive fish.
I agree with you and I love to raise fish from small sizes. I also don't keep a community 'monster' tank. I've found alot of compatibility issues are also MUCH easier to work out if you are raising all your fish from juveniles and things that "shouldn't" work often do. Plus if there are problems you will see them ahead of time and not lose fish.
Great decision on your part, imho. Great tank!
I agree with you and I love to raise fish from small sizes. I also don't keep a community 'monster' tank. I've found alot of compatibility issues are also MUCH easier to work out if you are raising all your fish from juveniles and things that "shouldn't" work often do. Plus if there are problems you will see them ahead of time and not lose fish.
Great decision on your part, imho. Great tank!
Is that white poop coming from your Oscar because of what you are feeding him or something more sinister?
I had the same idea last August and started out with 2 Oscars, 2JD's and a GT all around the inch mark. Due to aggression the GT had to go, he was really laying into the Oscars which had grown to more than twice his size, changing the decor etc. didn't really work as he was floating in the middle of the tank with no cover and opening a can of whoop ass on anything that dared to move out of it's allocated corner.
I wish I could have kept him but I only have room for one tank.
As they grew I let the more submissive JD go too so I am now left with two 8-9 inch Oscars and a good looking 5-6 inch JD and their pals. Growing on your own fish rather than buying a fully grown bruiser is far more rewarding.
I had the same idea last August and started out with 2 Oscars, 2JD's and a GT all around the inch mark. Due to aggression the GT had to go, he was really laying into the Oscars which had grown to more than twice his size, changing the decor etc. didn't really work as he was floating in the middle of the tank with no cover and opening a can of whoop ass on anything that dared to move out of it's allocated corner.
I wish I could have kept him but I only have room for one tank.As they grew I let the more submissive JD go too so I am now left with two 8-9 inch Oscars and a good looking 5-6 inch JD and their pals. Growing on your own fish rather than buying a fully grown bruiser is far more rewarding.
