Will a female convict that has bred ever grow up?

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The Mother Confessor

The Mother Confessor

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 3, 2017
120
133
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UK
I have had many female convicts over the years, and they almost always spawn with something or other in the tank.

I have never had a female grow up after spawning. Eventually the male usually kills her or they just end up as dwarfs for their lives.

I have a rare (they are in my area anyway) Honduran red point female that unfortunately spawned at a young age. She may have grown a tiny bit, but she is pretty much the same size.

Unfortunately her male died, but on the bright side, because he's gone, she hasn't been bullied to death when the male was over twice her size and my other cichlids aren't interested in her and don't bother her.

Is there any hope for her growing up or should I try and source a male? If I find another female she will undoubtedly spawn with something eventually and I will have the same problem again.

She's a beautiful fish and I would hate to lose her when the rest of my cichlids grow up and she inevitably gets bullied. She is literally 3 inches and well over two years old we think. I will get a pic if you guys want.
 
Of course they grow up & mature. They don't get all that large. But even though I believe that spawning does slow down growth I don't think it stops it - unless the spawning never stops I guess. The females of these species just don't get that large.
 
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How slow are we talking, cause I'm pretty sure that she has barely grown 1cm over the last year. She eats well, but is still only 3 inches.

Thanks, that gives me hope at least, although I don't know if it's warranted given how slow she has grown. I will up her food and see how it goes over the next few months.
 
This happens with other fish species as well,u may be able to get her to grow if u put her in a tank with noncichlid fish,out of sight of other cichlids.
 
Does it make a difference that she hasn't spawned for well over a year now? Surely that should have done the trick? She doesn't ever get egg ready and lay for the sake of it like I've seen some do before, when they have lost their mate or are promiscuous with uninterested males.
 
I doubt it makes a difference for female fish.
If u know anyone with a well maintained koi or goldfish pond u may put the fish in there over summer to grow a little.
 
Why a pond? Surely the low temp in the UK would kill her?!
 
Summer/warm months only. Rematch before it gets cold.
The reason I said pond is because 1.fish exzibit much better growth in ponds. And 2 it likely has no cichlids in it and therefore none of the growth inhibiting factors will be present.
 
FriedFlowerHornFillet said:
How big is your tank? UK pond won't work for tropical- unless it's an indoor pond :)
I'll be making one for my electric catfish soon
Click to expand...
Where in the U.K. Are u ?
I remember a guy who got better growth in the U.K. For his black piranha by putting it in a backyard pond in summer
 
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