Jaguar growth
- Thread starter sal123
- Start date
I have kept fish for many years and know a decent amount (no expert, but not an idiot until now). I put 4 Jaguar Cichlids, 4 Red Devils, and 4 Firemouths into a 75gal tank. As they were all tiny, I did not give it any thought. My 14 y/o step daughter has been running this show. She has neverhad a tank, I had always had Africans, but did not know if she would take any real interest. Since she has taken such an interest in the project, have decided to make it a priority.
After having read more about them, I decided it was time to upgrade (they have only been in there for 2-3 months).
I just bought a 200 gallon tank and plan to set it up around mid-March. While breeding is not a priority, it would be great if they did. I am open to any advice/pointers on keeping these guys happy, healthy and if they happen to breed, GREAT!
I figured this was a good thread to add to given my situation. Any and ALL advice would be great even if it is in a private message.
GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!
After having read more about them, I decided it was time to upgrade (they have only been in there for 2-3 months).
I just bought a 200 gallon tank and plan to set it up around mid-March. While breeding is not a priority, it would be great if they did. I am open to any advice/pointers on keeping these guys happy, healthy and if they happen to breed, GREAT!
I figured this was a good thread to add to given my situation. Any and ALL advice would be great even if it is in a private message.
GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!
Any fish if kept and raised alone in a well filtered tank will grow much faster than fish that are raised in a community setting. Cause then you eliminate the factors of dominance, competition for food, extra waste products, etc. The growth rate will vary depending on how you're keeping your fish. As stated, it basically depends on these factors listed in no particular order of importance:
1. Size of the aquarium. More space means faster and less restricted growth.
2. Water changes. How frequently do you make water changes? More water changes a week means much faster growth.
3. Food intake and quality. Self explanatory. However, one note, in my experience, live food seems to help promote faster growth. By live food I mean ghost shrimps and feeder fish, not worms etc.
4. Competition & hierarchy. Obviously, if there are more fish in the tank, the less food your jag will be able to get. If a fish is at or near the bottom of the hierarchy, it will have almost no visible growth as it attempts to remain non-threatening in appearance to the more dominant fish in the tank.
5. Stressfulness of the environment. I would say this factor would be an accumulation of the above mentioned. Are the parameters suitable for the fish that you want to keep? Is the aquarium located in a high traffic area that spooks the fish into hiding? Etc etc. Does it have a place to hide and feel comfortable in in the first place?
As for Johns' thing. Yikes, firemouths in a 75 with 8 significantly more aggressive and deadly cichlids spells doom for the poor fms. If you wanted a dither species in the 200 with the jag pair and devil pair as the main attractions, go with the much hardier and feistier convict cichlids. If you want something different from the convict, then try a group of neets.
1. Size of the aquarium. More space means faster and less restricted growth.
2. Water changes. How frequently do you make water changes? More water changes a week means much faster growth.
3. Food intake and quality. Self explanatory. However, one note, in my experience, live food seems to help promote faster growth. By live food I mean ghost shrimps and feeder fish, not worms etc.
4. Competition & hierarchy. Obviously, if there are more fish in the tank, the less food your jag will be able to get. If a fish is at or near the bottom of the hierarchy, it will have almost no visible growth as it attempts to remain non-threatening in appearance to the more dominant fish in the tank.
5. Stressfulness of the environment. I would say this factor would be an accumulation of the above mentioned. Are the parameters suitable for the fish that you want to keep? Is the aquarium located in a high traffic area that spooks the fish into hiding? Etc etc. Does it have a place to hide and feel comfortable in in the first place?
As for Johns' thing. Yikes, firemouths in a 75 with 8 significantly more aggressive and deadly cichlids spells doom for the poor fms. If you wanted a dither species in the 200 with the jag pair and devil pair as the main attractions, go with the much hardier and feistier convict cichlids. If you want something different from the convict, then try a group of neets.
iv always had a fast growht rate in my tank, my jag i got 2 weeks ago has grown double his size in two weeks so in a mounth it will be more than a inch easy, i feed him hirake gold 3 times a day and he gets blood worms or shirmp every 3rd day as a treat.
