Questions about Leichardtis

[deR]

Just wondering since I just got my small 3" Leichardti, and he looks different then all the pictures on the net. Do they get there spots later as they mature? do they get more color as they grow? and last but not least, when do the barbels start growing?

Thanks, im new to this species since I've only kept silvers and jars.

 

[señor_pescados_felices]

mine started to develop his spots nicely around 6-7" and seems to still be doing so at about 11-12"

he gets more red in his fins every day it seems.

Mine had a barbel wen I got it at 4",but the other one still hasn't showed up, I probably need to stop hoping it will because I assume it's not going to.

 

[deR]

wow thanks, i saw your aro very very nice i wish mine grows up like yours.

 

[arkmann]

I got the same sized lei from Rich and mine is already showing the spots. I'm assuming it could be due to the Hikari Cichlid Gold baby pellets that I feed it. I feed it twice a day, one in the morning and one at night and the lei loves it! I'll post a photo on Friday to show you what it looks like.

 

[Idealconcepts]

I got the same Leich from Rich as well, mine seem to be around 2.5 inches and the spots are starting to show up slightly. I feed Hikari Food sticks 3-4 times a day and scheduling to do 1 50%, and 1 or 2 25% water changes each week. No barbels yet. Thinking or incorportaing freeze dried krill into their diet in hopes of getting them larger quicker.

 

[arkmann]

^I do the same thing you do. Mine is gaining some girth at the moment although I only had it for 10 days only. No barbels as well. I thought pellets had the highest protein concentration in fish food but I could be wrong.

 

[deR]

Yea i bought it from rich also, mine is starting to grow barbels they are very small though, have not seen spots yet. Feeding shrimp and baby cichlid gold pellets.

 

[Idealconcepts]

I raised my Blk Aro from about 2.5 inches to 7 inches in about 4 months, in a 20gal with 2-3 water changes a week, on Freeze Dried Krill and NLS pellets. I’m gonna do the same except use hikari and Azoo food sticks instead of NLS. I believe Freeze Dried Krill has a higher protein content than pellets Krill is above 60% (Azoo, off brand, SF Bay), while Azoo and Hikari Food sticks are at 40%, Bio-Gold is 45%, Massivore delite is 47%. I think NLS is around 45%. So from the looks of it Freeze Dried Krill has the highest protein content. I think I did some informal research a few years back and concluded Freeze dried krill had the highest protein content.

 

[señor_pescados_felices]

Sounds good my friend

I'd keep the NLS in it's diet though,protein content aside it is one of the best foods out there along with omega one and hikari gold...also keeping as much variety in their diet while young will keep them from becoming picky when older.