Paretroplus Maculatus Update

[LS2012]

When I first got them (at @3"), I believe they were maybe 1 year old, so I believe they are about 4 years old now, and are slowly putting on size.
Usually I take at least 100-200 shots per day, and for the last 2 or 3 days none (or maybe 1) have been keepers, I took about 50 shots yesterday, and kept 3, sometimes I'm lucky.

Thanks Duane, so they're still growing at 4yrs...

Its a good thing photography is mostly digital these days. We would have a lot less pics of our fish. I'd consider myself very lucky to get 3 great pics out of 200.

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[LS2012]

Any guess on an approx age where they max out in size? Or perhaps its dependent mostly on upon environmental factors. If I'm remembering correctly, I think I've read about growth stopping for a while, then starting again. I wonder what the catalyst could be for a growth spurt. For example my female paratilapia arrived at about 2 inches, grew about an inch in the first few months (winter & settling in). Then she was around 3 inches for 6 or 7 months (spring & addition of Tarantsy pair). Then she had a growth spurt her size doubled in about 2 months (summer & Tarantsy spawn). The environmental changes are in parentheses.

Conversely my Maculatus have had steady growth since their arrival. Of course with the exception of the few dominant fish having significantly more growth than subs.

So much information to ponder...

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[LS2012]

Great thread guys. I'm impressed with all the valuable information you guys are putting out. I have a group of 6 adults and 4 juvis in 200 gallons and they are terribly aggressive with their conspecifics. Always splashing and bitting the heck of each other. The tank is crowded with other fish to break up the damage. I've manage to get spawns from them despite de fiery mess but I'm questioning whether I should start fresh or just add more maculatus to the mix. I think I'll do the latter.

Youre right Jose its always great to exchange information with each other. Especially when others share the same avid passion for these gems! Its disappointing to hear they're so rough. I was hoping Maculatus would be less aggressive towards conspecifics.

Mine are behaving for now. But since they're close to sexual maturity, it looks like I should anticipate an increase in aggression. As soon as its warm enough outside to finish up the stand on their next size tank, they'll be getting their much needed upgrade. Perhaps the new tank will help mitigate aggression for a bit.

And arent more fish are always more interesting to observe?

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[duanes]

I have no idea how big they will eventually get, but they are close cousins to menerambo, and I've had menerambo reach 14" or so.
I plan on trying the maculatus in a 500 gal intex kiddy pool this summer if all goes well, when the Uruguayans and carp get tossed in the in ground ponds. I imagine that the summer insect population food source may help with a growth spurt at the same time.

 

[LS2012]

I have no idea how big they will eventually get, but they are close cousins to menerambo, and I've had menerambo reach 14" or so.
I plan on trying the maculatus in a 500 gal intex kiddy pool this summer if all goes well, when the Uruguayans and carp get tossed in the in ground ponds. I imagine that the summer insect population food source may help with a growth spurt at the same time.

Thanks Duane. Looking forward to pics of both summer projects. The Intex pool looks like the 10ft round one we have for our daughter. They're really durable.

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[duanes]

It's actually the rectangular version, and I agree, very durable.
I may need some kind of cover, to hold heat if put it outside though, night temps here dip into the 40s sometimes in late June, and the plethora of raccoons.

 

[LS2012]

It's actually the rectangular version, and I agree, very durable.
I may need some kind of cover, to hold heat if put it outside though, night temps here dip into the 40s sometimes in late June, and the plethora of raccoons.

We use a solar cover for her pool and if I'm remembering correctly there's a bypass kit for solar heaters as well. But given your diy skills, I'm sure you could easily build one yourself

So you've got lots of critters too? We've got all sorts; black bear, raccoon, fox, coyote, possum, herons, hawk, eagles, snakes, turtles, etc. An outdoor above ground pond is pretty much impossible here unless it was secured like Fort Knox. Our property is backed by protected forested wetlands. That's one of the top reasons why we bought our home. We have a natural pond that's about a half acre. Its a giant magnet for wildlife. The fish in our outdoor pond are a food source for furry and feathered visitors. So there's zero chance of my precious Malagasies having an outdoor summer! I'll just have to live vicariously through outdoor setups of others.

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[duanes]

The pool outside may not work, although it's mostly raccoons and coyotes here, I had to steepen the sides of the in ground pond to discourage them. Couple summers ago, before I steepened the sides, the raccoons ate half my Gymnos. And not only half the population, but literally half, I'd find headless Gymno bodies on the patio in the morning.

 

[ciclasoman]

Hehehe great stories, sorry I find it funny, it reminds me of my night chases after a raccoon eating my killifish. I had set up 4 kiddie pools in a rental house backyard put the raccoons were relentless and would push the flimsy pools into draining. So I ended up buying hard plastic water troughs that are very high, no more raccoon problems but I'm limited by volume. The issue now is dragon fry larva and the constant symphony of a dozen frogs nightly!!! Mesh cover coming up!!
I do have to cover them with clear painter's plastic to retain heat in the winter.

 

[LS2012]

Headless gymnos & drained pools! How awful. Raccoons certainly are ingenious little buggers. They have a field day with my hummingbird feeders as well. I actually enjoy the cacophony of frogs in the summer, even the bullfrogs.
Here's an interesting pond story, not caused by a raccoon though. In the spring of 07 we found this at the edge of our pond. Its origin was a mystery for several months until a friend of a friend from a wildlife rehab in Maine was able to provide the answer. Care to guess what this is?






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