Stunted dovii?

[Albertan]

I got four dovii from a pet shop back in January of this year. The pet shop obtained them in a large chain-wide Rapps order back in November '06. I've found the fish to go through bouts of complete introversion where they just hide for days and days. I've had them in with freddies which are now 8". I've put them in with target fish, dithers, the works. I enjoy them when they are out, but my big concern is that the dominant fish is only about 5" long and almost a year old. This doesn't seem to fit to well with the inch a month theory. I think its largely due to the fact that they often don't have the greatest of appetites. They are on a regular diet of NLS with frequent feedings of frozen krill. Currently there are 4 dovii (5" and the rest well under 4" each), one 3" female con, 3 4" tin foil barbs, and a couple of small plecos in the tank.

So I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences with these fish. I read they can be timid when small but this is kinda disappointing. Thanks for any feedback. I've included a couple of pics of the dominant male for giggles.

 

[ksfishguy]

I wish I had info for you, sorry, but I must say that is one beautiful fish.

 

[killerfish]

yes that is a nice dovii what kind of water changes are you doing thats the only thing i can think of useually these fish are allways hungery

 

[Aquarium_Fish]

I'm no where near a pro ... I have had my Dovii about 24 hours

.... but ....

I noticed where mine has for no reason started hiding behind the under gravel tubes ...

There is nothing in there to harass her ... she aparrently ate 3 small guppies last night.

at least they are gone ... haven't really looked for corpses since she is being so shy ...

 

[Mudfrog]

My largest Dovii is just shy of 6" and it was purchased ~6 months ago. He is very shy as well, hates to be in the open. In the past 2 months it "seems" to have lost his appetite too, but I think it just prefers to eat when I'm not around. He will not come out to eat when I'm around but when I leave or duck below the tank he will come out and usually chow down.

That being said he's gotten picky with his food too, he will only take pellets and beef heart now. Completely ignores the worms and shrimp that I try to feed him. It's aggravating but I'm sure he'll come around.

 

[Mudfrog]

BTW.. beautiful Dovii, I'm very jealous!

 

[Motag 7]

i had three dovii and my last one i bought at about an inch and by the end of the year he was 10" He was reclusive as well, and would usually eat when i was away. That is odd what size tank is it? Maybe if you seperate the dovii and give your male more room to do what he wants stress free, he should grow more. key word *should*

 

[Motag 7]

That dovii in the pic is a gorgeous female!

 

[Albertan]

The fish are in a 125g tank. Water changes are about 70% weekly, usually in one large change. I did leave the water changes for close to six weeks once in the Summer when, after over a week of not being able to see any dovii in the tank, I temporarily lost interest. That actually seemed to turn the fish on and they were good for awhile after that.

I thought the fish was a male based on coloration and it even has a nuchal hump that's more prominent than the pictures suggest. I guess in addition to the original question, this thread now officially becomes another sex my fish thread.

Also, if this is a female I can't imagine the coloration of a male because this fish is out of this world irridescent in person. I can't seem to get the lighting right on my Canon 30D.

 

[Motag 7]

i had a female that had a slight nuchal hump and the same coloration and markings, that one seems to be of nicaraguan descent if it was a male it would have dots all over its bod and on it gill covers. but nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, plus her fins are really short and rounded at 5 inches my boy had tralers, but thats just my experience.