View Full Version : Texas Cichlids
Tyler718
12-07-2003, 8:29 PM
I just got 2 Texas Cichlids today from a lfs here in town. The question I have is how fast do they grow? I did some reading on this, but I haven't seen any info on this. Right now they are about 2 inches each in a 150g.
Thanks,
Dave
forsure
12-07-2003, 10:45 PM
I bought a one inch Tex on August 4th. Today is December 7th and he is over two inches long. His green/blue cynaguttum spots are starting to show.
so he grew over a inch in roughly four months.
Tyler, are you back from Iraq? Welcome back
SayersWeb
12-07-2003, 11:14 PM
I think it depends on how much you feed them. They will grow quickly in the big tank. A year from now you will have some very big fish!!
peifc
12-07-2003, 11:21 PM
Not only feeding...also water changes.
Mine isn't texas cichlid, but cousin of texas cichlid, carpintis.
When I got my carpintis, he was 1.25". 5 months later...he is 3.5".
DarthV
12-08-2003, 7:16 AM
I bought 4 carpintis in late summer (1 in Aug, the other 3 in late Sept) and they haven't had spectacular growth, well compared to my JD that grew over an inch a month. The largest is around 3" or so...with the others starting to catch up. They were in a 20gal tank up until a month ago and that might have been the reason for slower growth...but I can definintely tell that they are getting larger after a move to a larger tank (50gal).
Pei has it right about waterchanges being important... do 2-3 10-20% changes each week and they should start growing like crazy. A good diet is a must as well... stick with a good high quality pellet food and make sure to mix in quite a bit of spirulina based food...and maybe some earthworms/mealworms and fresh shrimp as treats.
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 10:28 AM
The Carpinte only get to be 6", so you shouldn't expect them to grow as quickly. The Texas cichlid will grow to 12".
peifc
12-08-2003, 12:01 PM
Originally posted by SayersWeb
The Carpinte only get to be 6", so you shouldn't expect them to grow as quickly. The Texas cichlid will grow to 12".
Uhmm...you mean 6" for female. Carpintis doesn't grow that that small. Their max size is 8 to 9". If taken care properly...can get as big as 11" (very rare case).
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 12:14 PM
Originally posted by peifc
Uhmm...you mean 6" for female. Carpintis doesn't grow that that small. Their max size is 8 to 9". If taken care properly...can get as big as 11" (very rare case). Ok, I was just using the species profile here on Aquaria Central: Carpinte (http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0358&view_records=1)
When you are saying 8 to 9" are you counting the length of the tail? Maybe that is the difference?
DarthV
12-08-2003, 5:47 PM
Not all of the species profiles on AC are 100% accurate. I'd say 6-7" for females and 9-11" for males...so slightly smaller than a true texas (H. cyanoguttatum), but not by a whole lot. Those are SL sizes, so from the snout to the peduncle (base of the tail).
Tyler718
12-08-2003, 8:07 PM
Thanks everybody!!!! The whole reason why I asked is to see if they will grow as fast as my 2 JD's.
Both of the them are about 2 inches right now and have some good coloring starting to appear. I took some good photos, but have to crop and resize them to post.
forsure,
Thanks!!! I did just come back from Iraq. I got home on the 2nd of October. I'm so glad to be home. The family is pretty also.
Dave
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 9:33 PM
Originally posted by DarthV
Not all of the species profiles on AC are 100% accurate. I'd say 6-7" for females and 9-11" for males...so slightly smaller than a true texas (H. cyanoguttatum), but not by a whole lot. Those are SL sizes, so from the snout to the peduncle (base of the tail). Yup! I checked the Axelrod Mini-Atlas and it lists them at 22cm... which is about 10 inches. Is there a way to inform AC of their error?
The Mini-Atlas says the Carpintis and Cyanoguttatum are the same, which we know is not true. Well... my version of the Atlas is from 1987, maybe it's time for an upgrade?
I'm bummed that the online resources are not more accurate. In this day and age we should be able to expect better. :(
I have two small Cyanoguttatum in the 120 gallon... kinda wish they were Carpintis though. We had a huge female Midas cichlid (8") in the 55 gallon tank that I setup at work (everyone loves it) which bred with a little (less than 3") male Carpinits. They did a great job of protecting the fry for weeks, until the female Midas turned on the male Carpintis and killed him. I was so crushed by this. There are still 6 fry left after about 6 weeks. Should be an interesting mix.
Here...read this...if you haven't read that already.
http://www.cichlidae.com/articles/a048.html
And this is my Carpintis. He (believe to be a he) is only 3.5".
http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/Carpinte/131-3153_IMG.JPG
http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/Carpinte/131-3128_IMG.JPG
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 9:52 PM
Arghh! Now I am more confused!! Ok, then I have two Carpinte because they have the irregular shaped spots, like yours (which is beautiful BTW!).
The male at work that was killed was then a Cyanoguttatum since it had perfectly round bright green spots. When breeding it turned frost white on it's front half and pitch black on it's back half with vivid green/blue spots.
Ok, I think I have it straight now! :argh
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 9:55 PM
Here's a pic of one of my little Carpintis -
http://www.sayersweb.com/aquariums/images/2003-11-30_120-12.jpg
peifc
12-08-2003, 10:03 PM
How big is your guy?
Carpintis, cyanoguttatus, tamasopoensis, and a few other herichtys sp have white front and darker back when breeding.
I have 2 2" carpintis in another tank growing out...hoping to get a pair soon. My carpintis are from Jeff Rapps...from location Puerto Escondido, Mexico, I heard.
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 10:12 PM
Mine are only about 1.5".
Jeff Rapps cichlids are the best! Here is the male Sysnspillum (of a pair) I bought from him about a year ago. It's in my 180 gallon and is about 10" now (12 with tail) -
http://www.sayersweb.com/aquariums/images/2003-12-07C_180-06.jpg
Here are two female Nics (also have a male) from him -
http://www.sayersweb.com/aquariums/images/2003-12-07C_180-02.jpg
I really should have done another order from him to stock my two new tanks rather than buying from LFS.
peifc
12-08-2003, 10:35 PM
I don't buy from LFS any more...unless it is something I really like. Most of my cichlids are from Jeff Rapps now (except for my Green Terror, JD, and Convict).
SayersWeb
12-08-2003, 10:47 PM
Those Blue Dempsy's were from Jeff.... right? I just found your website and was enjoying the photos. How many tanks do you have?
Anyway, thanks for the info on the Carpinte. It's great to set the record straight. It's also nice to find a forum of cichlid enthusiasts. :dance
peifc
12-08-2003, 11:11 PM
Actually, my carpintis are from different location then the regular carpintis. You can find that picture in Jeff Rapps website...his fully grown 'Escondido'.
Currently, I have 4 tanks. None of them are 100g tank yet...working on it :D Even my landlord didn't know I have that many tanks in the apartment.
I've planned to upgrade all my tanks soon (hopefully next year). 72g to 155g or 180g. 92g to 120g. 55g to 72g. quarantine/fry tank to 20g or 26g.
BTW, yes, my Blue Dempseys are from Jeff.