Slow Endli growth normal?

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RemainVayne

RemainVayne

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Sep 26, 2017
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I purchased 2 CB endlis from Wetspot about 2 months ago and they were 3". They have yet to eat pellets, but have been eating tilapia, smelt, and market shrimp in VERY small quantities. Even frozen blood worms and fresh live red wigglers weren't consumed. These two just aren't growing at all.

The CB del and teug the endlis are housed with, also purchased at the same time from Wetspot, have noticeably grown. I also had the two endlis alone in a tank to make sure they weren't being outcompeted for food, but were still very light eaters.

Has anyone else experienced this from juvenile endlis? Any suggestions for getting them to be better eaters? I'm OK if juvenile endlis are slow growers, but that doesn't seem to jive with what I've read on here. I just want these guys to grow into the (CB) beasts that endlis should be!
 
I’ve experienced slow growth from my 2 2.5”-3” cb Endlis I got from Wetspot too. Slow the first couple months. Reason I feel is that I only had a tankmate (5-7” weeksii) in a 75 gallon to themselves on separate occasions(5 months gap). Lots of room and was not in competition mode to eat. Kinda that survival of the fittest mentality of gotta eat as Much I can b4 I get eatened, lol....

If u want Endli to get a good start. Maybe add some Senegal dithers or other small polys to eat together. Feel as when they hit 5-6” plus. They’ll start to engorge themselves during each feeding. It’s smooth sailing after that.
 
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Vancouver_98683 said:
I’ve experienced slow growth from my 2 2.5”-3” cb Endlis I got from Wetspot too. Slow the first couple months. Reason I feel is that I only had a tankmate (5-7” weeksii) in a 75 gallon to themselves on separate occasions(5 months gap). Lots of room and was not in competition mode to eat. Kinda that survival of the fittest mentality of gotta eat as Much I can b4 I get eatened, lol....

If u want Endli to get a good start. Maybe add some Senegal dithers or other small polys to eat together. Feel as when they hit 5-6” plus. They’ll start to engorge themselves during each feeding. It’s smooth sailing after that.
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Thanks! So far, I haven't seen them compete for food with either sets of tank mates - first a Pearsei cichlid (who was a massive pig that got moved) or the del and Teugelsi they're with now.

I'm totally cool if they grow slowly until they start to become greedy with their food and pig out. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't much else I'm not doing with these guys to make sure they get a good start in life!
 
RemainVayne said:
Thanks! So far, I haven't seen them compete for food with either sets of tank mates - first a Pearsei cichlid (who was a massive pig that got moved) or the del and Teugelsi they're with now.

I'm totally cool if they grow slowly until they start to become greedy with their food and pig out. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't much else I'm not doing with these guys to make sure they get a good start in life!
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What kind of pellet you trying to feed them? CB endli should be easy to pellet train compared to WC ones.
 
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Polyaddict86 said:
What kind of pellet you trying to feed them? CB endli should be easy to pellet train compared to WC ones.
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Hikari carnivore
NLS thera-a
Northfin krill pellets
API bottom feeder shrimp pellets
Omega One shrimp pellets

No interest in any of the above. I'm not comfortable doing the starve method when they're so young though. I've been supplementing their tank with vitachem to make sure they're getting some additional good stuff since they're only eating frozen fish.
 
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RemainVayne said:
Hikari carnivore
NLS thera-a
Northfin krill pellets
API bottom feeder shrimp pellets
Omega One shrimp pellets

No interest in any of the above. I'm not comfortable doing the starve method when they're so young though. I've been supplementing their tank with vitachem to make sure they're getting some additional good stuff since they're only eating frozen fish.
Click to expand...
Those are good pellets, the only way to feed them is really to starve them, but vitachem should also give the same vitamins and suppliment as pellets.
 
I've noticed the best growth feeding earthworms. I also use anchovies and sardines with occasional salmon when I catch one. I also bought them from the wetspot. I noticed the Senegalus grew the fastest along with my ornate. the Delhezi and ppb not so much. they're all in the same tank. actually were in the same tank. I split them up yesterday due to the size difference.
 
Update:

These two endlis are still not growing. They're definitely only eating for survival instead of growth it seems.

When training for pellets, how long is it safe to starve before I need to worry about stunting growth from them not eating? And do I stick to a single type of pellet when doing this or should I continue to mix it up?

Only thing these guys eat is smelt - not even tilapia, shrimp, frozen blood worms, live red wrigglers, freeze dried krill, etc.
 
Ive always noticed slow growth with cb endli.

This is what ive done to pellet train smaller fish.
Cut up small pieces of tilapia and mash a fee pellets into them making a meatball. Do this for a week or two then try and starve for a few days. Offer pellets. If yhe other polys are eating pellets it wont take long to train the endli. Starve for as long as it takes. If you have a spare tank it would be easier to train them in.
 
What's your water change like?
 
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