I have problems with the growth rate of all my fishes, 29gal and 110gal. My water is good ( ph 7.8, ammo 0, ite 0 and ate below 40ppm bi-weekly water changes) so it has to be the diet. What do you guys use to grow fish normally and to speed up growth? Also can you include your feeding schedule (when, how many times, and days you feed treats vs pellets [like I feed treat every 3rd day or twice a week]).
What do you guys feed your fishes?
- Thread starter Terrorizing Cichlid
- Start date
I generally don't feed treats all that often, probably once every week or two. I feed Hikari Cichlid Gold or Bio Gold as well as frozen bloodworm once a day as a staple diet, but if you feed two or three times a day, as long as your water parameters are good you will notice that your fish grow a lot faster. Your water conditions and waterchange schedule seem pretty good. What types of food are you feeding your fish?
I have tried a lot of food. First I fed omega one, then hikari gold, and now I am on NLS. My fishes don't touch the omega one. My fishes won't touch krill, Formula One, or freez dried brine.
could be the temperature.
I got Firemouths with a grow ratio = zero. I discovered it was a my fault.
the temperature was too low.
for my chocolate cichlids I pump up till 82 C, they're growing fast as hell
I got Firemouths with a grow ratio = zero. I discovered it was a my fault.
the temperature was too low.
for my chocolate cichlids I pump up till 82 C, they're growing fast as hell
Terrorizing Cichlid;1723033; said:
Treats?
Who eats the treats?
And what are you feeding the treats?
How long have you had the fish?
also like above... What is the Temp.
And how much have they grown?
cr8on;1723042; said:
I do pretty much the same with the addition of fresh raw market shrimp and live feeders about once a week. I feed them the Hikari three times a day.
How's your temperature? Warmer temps will increase fishes' metabolism and increase their rate of growth. I keep my tank at 82 degrees.
Also, when you say you do "bi-weekly" water changes, does that mean twice a week or every other week?
Chocolates just grow fast as hell though 
(Check out this YouTube link, then click the 'Latest Video' link in my signature to see my Chocolate Cichlids growth from February 2 to April 21)
28C, under 10ppm Nitrates, Weekly 30% WC, Staple of Hikari Cichlid Gold, mixed with BioGold+ and Staple every second day or whatever, and peas as a treat for lunch every second day, Beefheart for lunch prior to the WC on a Sunday. As you can see, I'm a routine nazi.
All of my fish are growing like nuts.
Edit: Bi-weekly is every fortnight.
(Check out this YouTube link, then click the 'Latest Video' link in my signature to see my Chocolate Cichlids growth from February 2 to April 21)28C, under 10ppm Nitrates, Weekly 30% WC, Staple of Hikari Cichlid Gold, mixed with BioGold+ and Staple every second day or whatever, and peas as a treat for lunch every second day, Beefheart for lunch prior to the WC on a Sunday. As you can see, I'm a routine nazi.
All of my fish are growing like nuts.
Edit: Bi-weekly is every fortnight.
Wow that is quite the growth on that chocolate.
Hard to say about the growth rates though, without knowing what the fish are. My big fish don't grow all that much anymore obviously, but I can say that the severums I got 3 weeks ago at 1" or so are probably 2" now and thick; they were paper-thin little guys when I got them, the gold in particular. For the sevs (55G growout) I do 50% wc weekly and I feed them small feedings whenever I pass the tank and see them begging. I feed mostly cichlid gold. Helps that they're the only fish in there (save a 7" common pleco) and the filtration is pretty heavy (fluval 404). I keep my temp @ 82F.
Hard to say about the growth rates though, without knowing what the fish are. My big fish don't grow all that much anymore obviously, but I can say that the severums I got 3 weeks ago at 1" or so are probably 2" now and thick; they were paper-thin little guys when I got them, the gold in particular. For the sevs (55G growout) I do 50% wc weekly and I feed them small feedings whenever I pass the tank and see them begging. I feed mostly cichlid gold. Helps that they're the only fish in there (save a 7" common pleco) and the filtration is pretty heavy (fluval 404). I keep my temp @ 82F.
I feed NLS (different kinds-1mm, 3mm, 5mm, 7.5mm floating/sinking) twice a day as staple, my cichlids also eat the bottom feeders' food for them so they get Hikari Carnivore and Massivore pellets. The also pick off my Arowana's Hikari Carnivore sticks as well so they have a pretty diverse diet. I feed them live earthworms at least twice a week...and once or twice a week they get krill or market shrimp. I no longer feed bloodworms or brine shrimp as find them to be completely worthless nutrituionally and growthwise. My temperature is set at 82F and they seem to grow quickly enough for me. Some species of fish grow faster than others so keep that in mind as well.
I feed:
2X a day
Hikari Excel for veggie matter
Hikari Gold
Sinking Gold
Massivore Delite for bulk
Carnivore Pellets for bulk
1x a day
Cut silver sides
Chopped squid
Cut mysis shrimp
That seems to have worked really well for me it has bulked my cichlids and all fish up with great coloration too. I also alternate whole Krill and live brine shrimp or convict fry with the silversides.
2X a day
Hikari Excel for veggie matter
Hikari Gold
Sinking Gold
Massivore Delite for bulk
Carnivore Pellets for bulk
1x a day
Cut silver sides
Chopped squid
Cut mysis shrimp
That seems to have worked really well for me it has bulked my cichlids and all fish up with great coloration too. I also alternate whole Krill and live brine shrimp or convict fry with the silversides.