Tank and Fish Size

[liewcw_11]

Hi there! i've been keeping african cichlids for almost a year in a 60G tank. The biggest fish in the tank is a frontosa and protomelas which measure about 4" - 5".. they used to grow up quite fast but it seems like they have stopped growing. i am wondering does the size of the tank play a role here? i do partial water change once a week, and just using a powerhead filter. Is the size of the tank limiting the growth or are they just slow in growing up after a certain stage. feeding them twice a day with hikari cichlids pellets, tetrabits flakes and sometimes frozen brine shrimp.
my male venustus is about 4" and the female is 3" only even though they start to spawn. what is wrong here? any advice would be appreciated!

 

[rgonzales]

Tank size could be a factor in addition to under filtration for your bioload

 

[F1 VET]

Hi there! i've been keeping african cichlids for almost a year in a 60G tank. The biggest fish in the tank is a frontosa and protomelas which measure about 4" - 5".. they used to grow up quite fast but it seems like they have stopped growing. i am wondering does the size of the tank play a role here? i do partial water change once a week, and just using a powerhead filter. Is the size of the tank limiting the growth or are they just slow in growing up after a certain stage. feeding them twice a day with hikari cichlids pellets, tetrabits flakes and sometimes frozen brine shrimp.
my male venustus is about 4" and the female is 3" only even though they start to spawn. what is wrong here? any advice would be appreciated!

A 60 gal w/o a filter and only partial water changes may indeed stun your fish w/ nitrates and maybe even nitrite and ammonia, do a test asap and check your params, a bigger tank w/ clean water and a good and healthy diet will almost always grow big/beautiful healthy fish! Your tank size is fine but w/o a filter you need 100% water change per week, id get an ac110 on that beast and 40% every 2 weeks is perfect.

For now make sure extra food is netted and u vac every 5 days! And atleast put a pre filter on that powerhead also you can buy a good sponge filter for now.

Get a test kit!




#1 S. Vettel

 

[Spartacus]

Hi there! i've been keeping african cichlids for almost a year in a 60G tank. The biggest fish in the tank is a frontosa and protomelas which measure about 4" - 5".. they used to grow up quite fast but it seems like they have stopped growing. i am wondering does the size of the tank play a role here? i do partial water change once a week, and just using a powerhead filter. Is the size of the tank limiting the growth or are they just slow in growing up after a certain stage. feeding them twice a day with hikari cichlids pellets, tetrabits flakes and sometimes frozen brine shrimp.
my male venustus is about 4" and the female is 3" only even though they start to spawn. what is wrong here? any advice would be appreciated!

Tank size is definitely a factor! Frontosa come from the #2 largest lake in the world!That tank is way to small and will be stunted if not moved to a bigger tank.Anyone who tells you different is just wrong!same w/the venustus and empress.