Acei cichlid groth rate

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LilBabyEmma

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 26, 2009
675
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16
Morgantown
I have 12 small acei rangeing from 2 1/2-3" in a 55g tank with 2 demasoni. I was wondering how fast they grow. When i got them they grew half a inch or so really fast but then there groth slowed down now i can tell there growing but just a small amount. I only feed 1 time a day nls small sinking pellets and do wc once aweek and the temp in the tank is around 84. The tank has a eheim canister filter filtering it. I was wondering if they grow slow or am i doing something wrong.
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First off, you don't need your water temperature at 84 degrees, 76 - 78 will be fine. If you want your fish to grow, you have to feed them more than once per day. Three small feeding are great for young fish. Weekly water changes (25 - 50%) help with the growth rate.
 
Ill try ajusting my heater to lower temp. Is 84 to hight? Do u think if i get the temp to around 75 then after a wc crank it up it will trow the acei into spawing
 
A higher temp will increase their metabolism which can help them grow faster - as long as you feed them accordingly. The faster metabolism usually also means the fish will have a shorter lifespan (how much shorter I don't know). 84 is pretty high to keep them at. They would probably survive just fine, but it really is unnecessary and a waste of electricity/money. Also, raising the temp in the tank is one part of treating for ich. By keeping the tank at an elevated level you increase your risk for getting a resistant strain of ich.

Also, I have never personally kept demasoni, but most people say to keep them in groups of at least 12 - unless you know that your group has WAY more females than males. Demasoni may be small, but they are known to wipe out tanks overnight as they reach sexual maturity. Not trying to scare you, just want to give you a heads up. Since you already have 14 fish in the tank, adding another 10 demasoni may be a bit much - but if you have the filtration and the willingness to keep up with necessary maintenance it shouldn't be too big a problem since demasoni do max out around 3-4" (I think).

Also you might want to think about adding some more rock, especially if you end up adding more demasoni.

Otherwise your tank is looking great!!
 
I got my acei just short of a year ago at 1'' feed him 3 times a day plus do at least 50% water change a week and he is now 5''.
 
They should grow at about 1/2" per month or so. I'd definitely turn you heat down to at least 78*. 84* is way too high.
 
A higher temp will increase their metabolism which can help them grow faster - as long as you feed them accordingly. The faster metabolism usually also means the fish will have a shorter lifespan (how much shorter I don't know). 84 is pretty high to keep them at. They would probably survive just fine, but it really is unnecessary and a waste of electricity/money. Also, raising the temp in the tank is one part of treating for ich. By keeping the tank at an elevated level you increase your risk for getting a resistant strain of ich.

Also, I have never personally kept demasoni, but most people say to keep them in groups of at least 12 - unless you know that your group has WAY more females than males. Demasoni may be small, but they are known to wipe out tanks overnight as they reach sexual maturity. Not trying to scare you, just want to give you a heads up. Since you already have 14 fish in the tank, adding another 10 demasoni may be a bit much - but if you have the filtration and the willingness to keep up with necessary maintenance it shouldn't be too big a problem since demasoni do max out around 3-4" (I think).

Also you might want to think about adding some more rock, especially if you end up adding more demasoni.

Otherwise your tank is looking great!!

This is really good advice re: Demasoni... Not to sound overly dramatic but they are best kept in groups of ONE or TWENTY...

I had a group of 30 dwindle to 15 in the course of 3-4 months in a 4' - 120. I got rid of all but one...
 
I kno the demasoni deal. I breed them for awhile. I got 2 in the tank they do fine just chase my acei around some. Ill turn my heat down
 
I got my acei just short of a year ago at 1'' feed him 3 times a day plus do at least 50% water change a week and he is now 5''.
Same with mine. I have a male P. elegans 'ngara' who is almost 6" after 12 months. To the op, definitely turn you're heat down to 78-80F. I keep mine at 80F.
 
Your*^^ I feel like a moron now 'cause I always rant about people using the wrong your/you're...
 
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