+1
Their life expectancy will probably be far greater than many of the oversized obese O's that I see on a regular basis.
Stunted growth
- Thread starter corn fed
- Start date
+1
Their life expectancy will probably be far greater than many of the oversized obese O's that I see on a regular basis.
Why do people think you have to feed them 3-4 times a day? Fish can go week(s) without food.
I even remember feeding baby convicts once a week. They grew up fine (bigger and with that head hump(males)). When I sold some to the LFS they said they never saw such beautiful convicts.
I even remember feeding baby convicts once a week. They grew up fine (bigger and with that head hump(males)). When I sold some to the LFS they said they never saw such beautiful convicts.
Ok. i hope they live longer!! That would be awesome. I've always done regular water changes. I find having my hands in the water relaxing. I hand feed both the Oscars now so I know they are getting enough with the 1-2mm pellets and will be switching back to the 3-4mm pellets when they kill the rest of this jar. Shouldn't take long lol. I know that they don't need that much now but I thought as babies you wanted to feed them more times a day? Is that not right?
Sent from my HTC6600LVW using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Sent from my HTC6600LVW using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
While there is no question that juvenile fish typically have much higher metabolic rates compared to semi adult, or adult fish, and due to that fact will grow at more optimal (ie natural) rates when fed more than once per day, it is also true that all fish are individuals and can vary in growth among the species. Not all oscars are going to reach 16" in captivity.
Certainly no one is breaking any growth rate records with an 8-9" oscar after 3 years, but at the same there's nothing saying that both of these fish couldn't gain a few more inches in overall size & girth as time goes on. While fish slow down in growth as they age, they never truly stop growing.
There are also no definitive studies that I am aware of that demonstrate what the "ideal" (whatever that means?) growth rate of an Astronotus ocellatus in the wild (or captivity) actually is. As far as that goes, the only dietary study that I am aware of that involved A. ocellatus in captivty is an old study that involved vitamin c levels required by juveniles. Most ornamental fish have never been studied in any type of long term feed trial of any type.
I personally wouldn't lose any sleep over this, it is what it is.
Certainly no one is breaking any growth rate records with an 8-9" oscar after 3 years, but at the same there's nothing saying that both of these fish couldn't gain a few more inches in overall size & girth as time goes on. While fish slow down in growth as they age, they never truly stop growing.
There are also no definitive studies that I am aware of that demonstrate what the "ideal" (whatever that means?) growth rate of an Astronotus ocellatus in the wild (or captivity) actually is. As far as that goes, the only dietary study that I am aware of that involved A. ocellatus in captivty is an old study that involved vitamin c levels required by juveniles. Most ornamental fish have never been studied in any type of long term feed trial of any type.
I personally wouldn't lose any sleep over this, it is what it is.
You have no worries. Some fish just don't reach the maximum size as so with say humans. We mostly have the same characteristics but we are all not the same size. You have already done more for your fish then most people would by giving them such a large aquarium to grow up in. They are probably just slow growers, but by the sounds of it you love them and they are amazing fish, so regardless how big they get seems like you are doing ok don't sweat it if they don't grow crazy fast.
