When fish breed does it stunt there growth???

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Sweet, was coming in to ask the same question. I bought 3 GTs about 6 weeks ago at roughly 1"-1.5". The biggest one (appears to be male) is now about 3.5" and the second largest (now definitely a female) is about 2.5" and JUST LAID EGGS! The only fish she'd allow near them was the male who also helped protecting them, but there are too many fish in that grow out and they were all eaten. I'm worried this female won't be able to keep up with the male now, any ideas on how to keep her growing? She was already falling significantly behind in growth. I've never had GTs breed (or attempt) this young/small before.

Sorry to hijack, just figured it was the same subject, no need for another thread.
 
Lol you cool brother I had gts do the same thing to me But I don't have the female anymore so I'm no help
 
My experience has been that when fish breed, the growth process does slow. Simple explanation would be that the fish uses energy to either breed...or grow. They don 't do both equally. I have seen this with countless pair of Prachromis, Amphilophus, Hericthys...and more over thirty years. I would have a group of the fish and in one tank, a breeding pair...in the other...singles. The singles ALWAYS grew faster than the breeders.
 
Redbellypiranha said:
No how do you think it is in the wild. You don't see stunted fish everywhere


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

That's not really an equal comparison. There are many variables involved with fish breeding and living in the wild. An aquarium is an enclosed environment designed to duplicate the parameters in the wild. But not everything encountered in the wild are duplicated in home aquariums. Being enclosed and bound to the practices of the hobbyist will yield different things than those found in the wild.

Aquamojo said:
My experience has been that when fish breed, the growth process does slow. Simple explanation would be that the fish uses energy to either breed...or grow. They don 't do both equally. I have seen this with countless pair of Prachromis, Amphilophus, Hericthys...and more over thirty years. I would have a group of the fish and in one tank, a breeding pair...in the other...singles. The singles ALWAYS grew faster than the breeders.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, Mo. I've experienced the same thing with multiple breeding species.
 
Aquamojo said:
My experience has been that when fish breed, the growth process does slow. Simple explanation would be that the fish uses energy to either breed...or grow. They don 't do both equally. I have seen this with countless pair of Prachromis, Amphilophus, Hericthys...and more over thirty years. I would have a group of the fish and in one tank, a breeding pair...in the other...singles. The singles ALWAYS grew faster than the breeders.
Click to expand...

^ I agree 100%. Especially with CA/NA cichlids since they are so much more prolific then the SA species I have kept. I was going to comment this does not seem to be as much of an issue with SA's but realized at the same time I have had easily less than half the spawns from geos etc.. that I have from dovii, rtm, carpintis etc.. energy is energy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom