Re: stunted growth??

[raychah@auburn.campus.mci.net (Charles H. Ray, Jr.)]

>1 inch at 5 months is about right.  Apistos don't grow as fast as larger
>cichlids, even Aequidens or Laetacaras.  Bloodworms and a quality flake will
>push growth about as fast as you can expect.  It is possible to get faster
>growth if you keep nitrates and silicates at zero, but even then, the growth
>would not be noticeably better.
>
>Bob Dixon
>
Rate of growth varies with species.  Although I can raise Rams to 1 inch or
more in 8 weeks, I cannot achieve the same rate of growth with apistos.
Cacatuoides are relatively rapid in growth and might exceed the one inch in
five months.  A. bitaeniata on the other hand seems to grow ridiculously
slow once they reach about 1/2 inch in length even with ample room (one
gallon per fish) and the best foods (primarily live foods).  A. borellii
grow relatively quickly as do A. agassizii.  I have several other species
that seem to follow the bitaeniata model.