Growth Rates,

["Tim Bardsley - Smith" <cichla_to_apistogramma@hotmail.com>]

Hey guy's,

just wanted top comment on some of my growth rates for my Apisto's, mainly 
my A.hippolytae, who have really blown me away with there growth rate, they 
are now, just under 1" and are only 6 weeks old.  I only managed 13 fry out 
of about 20 that she had ( having problems with fertile spawns, this was the 
only one with fry.)  They were moved to a new tank as soon as i saw them to 
increase survival rate, I only managed to get the 13 in the first place so 
had a zero losses. I did'nt do any thing different still fed powder food, 
until they could take black worms at about 1.5cm. They were however in a 30" 
tank by them selves with a buch of Java fern. I have also recently raised 
Bitaeniata which had similar growth rates, maybe a bit smaller, but they 
were in a well planted tank and i did'nt even feed them, only mum got her 
black worms. I had originally though all the fry were eaten but have 
recently seen about 6 fry that made it with the largest over 2 cm, again 
they are only about 6 weeks old.  I have also raised Gibbiceps, but they 
took about 3 months to reach simil;ar sizes, then pretty much stopped 
growing, i did however have many more fry in the smae sized tank and suspect 
this as a reason to less growth. They were also fed the exact same food. 
Also do you guy's think maturity is related more to age than to size? As my 
hippolytae are nearly 1" but only 6 week's do you guy's think it's possible 
they could start spawning soon??

Tim

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