Will my Kelberi be a runt forever?

[krichardson]

The smaller of my two kels was sold to me about a year ago as a runt.It was alone in a tank and looked as if it had'nt been fed much at the time that I picked it up but after all the time thats passed, it has grown a little but it is still barely six inches in length.It has been in a sxty gallon tank with a few other fish that have come and gone as growouts,it's been fed feeder fish only and had it's water changed weekly.I had expected it to be closer in size to my other kel which is about ten inches so that they would be in the same tank by now...or am I being impatient?

 

[FishNCash]

I had the same issue awhile back with my kelberi. He did not start growing until I got him off feeders then he gain 3 inches in 3 months. Try getting him off feeders or stuff your feeders with pellets.

 

[jcardona1]

could just be a natural runt, it happens with cichla every now and then. six inches after a year definitely isnt right

 

[HULON]

Ya just like people sometimes are giant and others little runts!!heck you never know he might end up being one of your best!!Hey i just thought of somethen How about a coule pics of your collection?

 

[orinocensis1]

He prob will max out at around 10"

 

[krichardson]

Ya just like people sometimes are giant and others little runts!!heck you never know he might end up being one of your best!!Hey i just thought of somethen How about a coule pics of your collection?

I doubt if he will surpass my bigger one in stunnerness but I would'nt mind.I'm working on my photobucket situation and then will come the pictures.

He prob will max out at around 10"

That would be fine.I tried starving it before in an attempt at getting off of live but it became really emaciated so I gave in.I thought I'd try again after it got a little bigger.My ten incher snaps up smelt chunks like it's his job.

 

[orinocensis1]

I doubt if he will surpass my bigger one in stunnerness but I would'nt mind.I'm working on my photobucket situation and then will come the pictures.


That would be fine.I tried starving it before in an attempt at getting off of live but it became really emaciated so I gave in.I thought I'd try again after it got a little bigger.My ten incher snaps up smelt chunks like it's his job.

Yeah. It could take another year or a little longer if he does reach 10". Yeah watch out with starving him because fish do starve to death. I would just give him the live. Try to use silver sides or something from the ocean that does not contain parisites.

 

[krichardson]

I'll look around and try to find a source of live silvrsides then.

 

[Delhezi B]

If hes to runty for ya rich jusy shoot him over my way

 

[FishNCash]

Here is how I did it and the training actually took 6 months. I started out with live feeders then a member here gave me some advice. He said to freeze the rosie then feed one or a two a day. I did this for about 3 months and got him to the point that once the lid open he learned food is coming. I would toss the frozen feeders across the tank to make him chase after it. He learned not to be afraid of my hand and associate my hand with food. It was at this point I starved him for a week then try tossing him Hikari sticks like what I would do with frozen rosie. He started taking it but not aggressively. Within one week he started going after pellets like it's feeders.