Vieja breidhori growth rate

[FishKing5]

I just put in my order for a few vieja breidhori with rapps yesterday but he only has them at the 1.5 to 2 inch range which kind of sucks but oh well. If Dan at COA didn't have a minimum order and high shipping prices I would've gotten these from him since he has them at the 4 to 5 inch size. But anyways, I was wondering what's the growth rate like on these guys. Seems to me after some research that they're a bit slower growing then other Vieja species lie melanura. If these are around the 1.5 inch range, when could I expect them to be closer to 6 to 7 inches.? Was thinking of just raising them in my bigger vieja tank with all sub adults and a 5 Inch pearsi. Think that would work or should I throw them in with my dimerus and balzanii since they're much smaller. Both tanks get a lot of water changes with good feedings.

 

[duanes]

Here is a shot of one of mine taken when they first arrived (all maybe 2.5").
Males (for me) ended up 1/3 larger than females

Within 3-4 months, they looked like this. Not as speedy growers as some Vieja, but plenty fast.


I started mine in a community of similar sized, other non-threatening Central American cichlids such as Paraneetroplus gibbiceps. One of my rules (for myself) is to never put more than one species of a genus together, unless they are found that way in nature.

 

[Andicca]

I had one female that I got from Rapps years ago, she was super slow growing for a long time, in fact I called Jeff to ask lol. However, when she started to grow, she would do it in spurts, it would seem like overnight she would add 1/2 an inch. Cool fish though, she was tough!

 

[duanes]

During the time I had mine, my females never exceeded 5 " although the males easily hit 8".
I believe because my mated pair started spawning at 4"-5", and kept spawning, the energy cost stauled the females growth considerably. After a few spawnings I passed them on to another aquarist, and never found out about their ultimate size.
My water change schedule was 30% every other day, so I believe this regime had a lot to do with the regular continuous growth they did have.

 

[FishKing5]

During the time I had mine, my females never exceeded 5 " although the males easily hit 8".
I believe because my mated pair started spawning at 4"-5", and kept spawning, the energy cost stauled the females growth considerably. After a few spawnings I passed them on to another aquarist, and never found out about their ultimate size.
My water change schedule was 30% every other day, so I believe this regime had a lot to do with the regular continuous growth they did have.

I do 30 percent water changes every other day as well so the growth rate should be pretty good I think. Hoping to get at least nice male out of the 3 I get. Do you think they could do fine with my larger vieja? They don't ever seem to bother my smaller growouts that I put in with them. I had a small Argentea that did super well with them.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Do you have an automatic water changer system too?