So I have 3 Jacks growing out in a 75 gallon. All were bought at the same time and were basically just past the fry stage. So fast forward 2 1/2 months or so and now I have 3 very different sized fish. I still am unable to make out the sexes of any of them but is it typical for groups to have drastically different sizes over a span of a couple months. They almost look as if they came from 3 different batches of fry. I'm assuming the largest is the male and the other two smaller are female, but the growth rates have been dramatically different to this point.
Jack Dempsey growouts
- Thread starter Spence
- Start date
Primarily feeding NLS and Cichlid Gold. I mix in some flakes and a ground up fish/scallop garlic mixture once a week or so for a treat. They are all getting their fair share of food, but yes the largest is certainly the most aggressive at getting his fill during feeding time.
As for the aquascape, I just messed it all up. I'm in the process of switching to an fx4 from the two HOBs I am currently running. The new flow has everything all over the place. I'll get a full pic up once I can remove the hobs and get rid of a bunch of the micro bubbles and a stable home for the plants
As for the aquascape, I just messed it all up. I'm in the process of switching to an fx4 from the two HOBs I am currently running. The new flow has everything all over the place. I'll get a full pic up once I can remove the hobs and get rid of a bunch of the micro bubbles and a stable home for the plants
Some frozen brine and blood worms would fatten em up 
Defrost with some warm water before putting in the tank, so that the smaller ones can get their share. In your pic, see how the dominant one has a fat belly and the other two seem to have smaller bellies? The smaller ones are being outcompeted.
Defrost with some warm water before putting in the tank, so that the smaller ones can get their share. In your pic, see how the dominant one has a fat belly and the other two seem to have smaller bellies? The smaller ones are being outcompeted.
This might not be a popular opinion but the one on the right almost has a sunken belly look, yet you say they eat their fair share.
Are you sure there isn’t something else going on there like parasites? If they have internal parasites they might not be absorbing enough nutrition to grow.
When you say they eat, are you watching them to see they swallow or are they spitting it out when you are not looking?
Are you sure there isn’t something else going on there like parasites? If they have internal parasites they might not be absorbing enough nutrition to grow.
When you say they eat, are you watching them to see they swallow or are they spitting it out when you are not looking?
Oh no, these guys all eat...and aggressively. That's why I was surprised one would be so much bigger than the others. The largest definitely gets the most, but the two smaller ones get their fill at every feeding. All are very active and passing normal looking waste. So I don't see any signs of parasites. On top of that I fed a course of NLS hex shield as a preventative shortly after I added these guys to my tank, so I'm really hoping parasites are not an issue in this tank.
It is very common in any cichlid spawn to have those fast growers and alternatively slow growers with many different sizes, whether they all eat the same or not. In many cases (but not always) males grow faster than females. And...
If two are males, and one female, it is also common that the larger alpha (even when very young), will harass a less dominant individual causing enough stress to slow growth.
Australoheros above, Chuco below
nicaraguense below
If two are males, and one female, it is also common that the larger alpha (even when very young), will harass a less dominant individual causing enough stress to slow growth.
Australoheros above, Chuco below
nicaraguense below
Here is a shot of each after feeding showing plump bellies
They are lovely!
I wasn’t say they did have parasites just something to be cautious of and be aware of
I wasn’t say they did have parasites just something to be cautious of and be aware of