Cichlid average size

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It should also be pointed out that a well maintained fish in too small a tank can do very well for a long time before it starts to show signs of stress. Also I believe DavidR has it right about growth rates. A slow starter may still be a monster in the end. It will just take him longer to get there, all things being equal.
 
Thanks guys for the info. I remember seeing a clown knife at a lfs in a 40, it had to be a good 2', and it was in there for at least 6 months. I understand about the overstocking/stress concept. I was growing out various types for a different lfs pond (didn't want small fish) and my butti got to be huge after taking everyone else out of my tank. It was well over 14" when he died and was very healthy with good color. The lfs had just opened and wanted large fish for display. I had to keep the butti because no place would take them, even little ones were under the "all sales final" condition.
 
David R said:
Now this is something I've often wondered about, and I really believe that keeping these big fish on little glass boxes has more effect on their growth and size than we realise. Sticking with the dovii example, almost all the examples of massive dovii I've seen posted here have been either wild caught or in a public aquarium, with the occasional exception like Mel's big male that is in 600g. So how much space do they really need in order to thrive and reach their full potential?

Obviously there is a difference between the world-record maximum size and average size, with natural genetic variance some fish will grow faster and larger than others, anyone who has grown out a batch of fry will have seen it. What I'm not sure of is how big the slower growing fry get in the long run. Fish never cease growing, so I think given the right conditions most fish should be able to grow fairly close to their potential maximum size.


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Second this!


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Brazzen1 said:
I remember seeing a clown knife at a lfs in a 40, it had to be a good 2', and it was in there for at least 6 months.
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That sort of thing often happens when people trade in big fish to the LFS, I doubt the knife would have grown to that size in the 40g tank. And remember, at 2' the CK is nowhere near full grown, one member here has a couple of them pushing 40"+ in a large pond, and I've seen plenty of fishing pics of monsters well over 2'.
 
The clown knife (chitala chitala) has hit 50" (on reels, but a heavier one that was likely 54" one was taken off reel). Chitala lopis has hit 59".

Largest Umbee (caquetaia umbrifera) was 32". (I can't find any at 36".)

C. temensis has reached 43".

Dovii's have been caught by reel up to 28".


Hitting 75-80% of the world's best is probably a pretty stout target unless one has had ample space, great conditions and very good nutrition from start to finish.

 
43" temensis?!!! Got a link? I'm presuming it's a fishing world record, would love to see some pics.
 
David R said:
43" temensis?!!! Got a link? I'm presuming it's a fishing world record, would love to see some pics.
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X2. I don't think its possible for any cichla sp. to get that big. If it is true it would be a record for sure.
 
cichlidfish said:
X2. I don't think its possible for any cichla sp. to get that big. If it is true it would be a record for sure.
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I remember seeing somewhere that the biggest caught on rod and reel was a 40 inch temensis I'll try and find the picture

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http://www.fishing-worldrecords.com/scientificname/Cichla temensis/show

C. Temensis. Picture is ~41". There is on record a 43" (no picture attached.) There was also one caught at 44 lbs (other method!)


IGFA has the fish at 37" (same weight), so not sure what the correct one is.

http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecDetail.aspx?uid=36425&cn=Peacock, speckled#.UhOsrz_oBGF


http://www.fieldandstream.com/photo...ght-brazils-rio-negro?photo=0#node-1001353812

Please note that these are rod and reel records, so "other methods" like nets often catch larger specimens. The 43" long fish was not captured on a rod.
 
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