What to do with a runt?

[Dis]

I started with 5 xingus around 3 or 4", now the biggest is about 12" and 3 slightly smaller around 10"

Then the runt around 6 or 7". He doesn't look that great either.

Is there anything I can do to help catch him up?

He is definitely the least aggressive at feeding

Thanks

 

[krichardson]

Place the runt in a tank of it's own and powerfeed it.It should put on some size fairly quickly without having to compete with the others for food and space.

 

[Coryloach]

Besides genetics and bullying, the fish may also have a parasitic load. If you have not de-wormed them, I'd do two rounds of flubendazole(not fenbendazole). It is broad spectrum and may solve your "runt" issue. Fish growth can be severely inhibited if the fish has parasites/worms and if one has it, chances are all have it, only that the smallest and weakest is more susceptible as their immune system is giving up. Fish also tend to bully the weakest link...so things get worse...

 

[Dis]

Ok thanks for the suggestions. I don't think they have any parasites, but I could be wrong. You can see him around 12 seconds he comes into the middle of the screen.

 

[kno4te]

Doesn’t look that bad. Would do as krich suggested.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Doesn’t look that bad. Would do as krich suggested.

Yeah put in his own tank and baby him, or put him in a tank with far less aggressive or competing tankmates

 

[gangster]

I would leave him in with all the other fish. I had an orino that was a runt as well. Eventually he started bulking up and became the biggest and baddest of the group. Maybe try and increase your water changes and feed a tad more.

 

[J. H.]

Ok thanks for the suggestions. I don't think they have any parasites, but I could be wrong. You can see him around 12 seconds he comes into the middle of the screen.

Dream fish for me, Geos and Cichla. Those Altifirons are beautiful! Do you get any breeding?

 

[mrrobxc]

Dream fish for me, Geos and Cichla. Those Altifirons are beautiful! Do you get any breeding?

Agreed. Very nice combo and setup

 

[Dis]

Dream fish for me, Geos and Cichla. Those Altifirons are beautiful! Do you get any breeding?

I moved two pairs of this group into a 125, the fighting between the pair seem to be the problem. I just managed to strip one female the other day and now for the first time I have some free swimmers. They have been mature for over a year and this is the first time I've been close to success.

All the altifrons I have were bred by the parents that I sold and I grew out these 15 for the last 4 or so years.

It's been a long time coming.

Thanks for the help, comments and support