Speed up fish growth

[SLS_23]

Hi, is there any way to speed up fish growth? Especially large cichlids? I feed the fish every day, I change the water once a week. Is there anything that makes fish grow faster? I've heard that fish are given hormones to grow.

 

[FahakaPapa]

Feed them more and do more water changes to compensate for the extra feedings. Feed them till they don't want anymore food twice a day. Also make sure it's high quality food.

 

[SLS_23]

Thank you for your answer, I will feed the fish several times a day. I use Hikari Gold, SAK Energy as food. I read about using trout feed for faster growth. But I don't want what I read to be damaging the fish's liver.

 

[Deadeye]

What kind of cichlids? How fast are they currently growing? Really all you can do is keep water clean and feed well.

 

[SLS_23]

Buttikoferi, Synspila, Splendida. Cca 1cm for month. I bought synspilas 6 months ago as 4cm fish, now the biggest one has 12cm but argenteas with same size have now 15 and the bigest one has 20cm

 

[Deadeye]

That sounds about right for these species. Really just upping the feeding and water changes is all you can do. Of course over feeding also has its complications.

 

[tlindsey]

Of course over feeding also has its complications.

^
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[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Precisely how clean the water should be hasn't been mentioned. NO3 should ideally be 5 ppm or less for the very best growth of all.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

Warmer water might help speed up metabolism but honestly I wouldn’t speed it up to much It will probably shorten life span and maybe lead to other health issues.

 

[tlindsey]

I will feed the fish several times a day.

Not necessary unless they are fry. Appropriate size aquarium and as stated above wc's, and filter maintenance to keep Nitrate levels below 5 ppm. Also agree with that power feeding will cause health issues.