festae growth urban legend?
- Thread starter Banger
- Start date
not true, yeah they might not get as large as they should but this will because of poor conditions and will lead to a shorter life and poor health.
he's in a 55 gallon now. he's about 13 1/2 cm. I got him two 1/2 weeks ago from a friend. He was in pretty bad shape at first, amazingly though, and this is no lie....he'll eat chopped beef heart from my fingers !!!! SO COOL !!!
I'm going to move him up to a 75 gallon after proper cycling. By the way, is it true that festae's grow about 1/2 inch a month ? I'm trying to figure out his age. The prior owner said he was around 8 months or so.
I also have a female festae. She's only 4 1/2 months though. She's a real beaute. Fiesty little bugger ! lol
P.S.
On behalf of us journeyman aquarist, much respect to all
of the veterans on the site, I've spent all day absorbing
knowledge!
Thanks
MBZ
I'm going to move him up to a 75 gallon after proper cycling. By the way, is it true that festae's grow about 1/2 inch a month ? I'm trying to figure out his age. The prior owner said he was around 8 months or so.
I also have a female festae. She's only 4 1/2 months though. She's a real beaute. Fiesty little bugger ! lol
P.S.
On behalf of us journeyman aquarist, much respect to all
of the veterans on the site, I've spent all day absorbing
knowledge!
Thanks
MBZ
Festae grow very slow. They will also need at least a 150 if you want them to live together, one would be fine in a 75 though. I put five in a 150 a little over a year ago. The male is about 8 inches now, and the female maybe five. These are guesses. Once they decided to mate the male killed the other three fish in two days. I woke up one morning after noticing some chasing the night before and two fish were dead. The other was killed before I could remove it. This was in a 150 with ten silver dollars as target fish as well as a school of giant danios, which ended up being feeders. They are very mean fish but very cool to watch. You might want to rethink the 55 if you want them both to live. I would give them two months before one is killed. Just my opinion based on my one experience with this fish. HTH
Fish's growth will be slowed in a small tank, but they will still outgrow the tank. Also, It's very unhealthy for fish to be stunted like that. They will end up leading a short, unhealthy life if kept in too small of a tank. Glad to see you're making sure your fish has proper accomodations 
scott2 is right on,
festae do grow very slow and are one of the meanest cichlids I have encountered. At 13.5 cm yours is in the breeding range which can be added problems. Larger tanks can help but is no guarantee for success. Supposedly they can reach 16-18" but I have not seen one that large - possibly due to lack of enough tankspace where they were kept and possibly due to their mean nature.
Beautiful fish though - especially the female.
festae do grow very slow and are one of the meanest cichlids I have encountered. At 13.5 cm yours is in the breeding range which can be added problems. Larger tanks can help but is no guarantee for success. Supposedly they can reach 16-18" but I have not seen one that large - possibly due to lack of enough tankspace where they were kept and possibly due to their mean nature.
Beautiful fish though - especially the female.
Thanks for all the advice/tips on festaes. Scott2, I have them in seperate tanks. I have a (Crenicichla lepidota 15 cm) in the tank with "Big Red" They locked jaws once or twice, but there are so many nooks in the tank they get along fine. I keep a close eye on tem cause God forbid, something happens before his new homes done.
INXS, I think I kinda dig the wohloe slow growth thing. Versus him becoming a beast overnight, my kids get to watch his growth cycle. They can't stop talking about him in school. Pretty coll huh?
ChicoRaton, Thanks for the encouraging words. All animals big or small deserve to be treated respectfully,
except for Mcdonalds cows and KFC chickens....they're here for our enjoyment !! lol
INXS, I think I kinda dig the wohloe slow growth thing. Versus him becoming a beast overnight, my kids get to watch his growth cycle. They can't stop talking about him in school. Pretty coll huh?
ChicoRaton, Thanks for the encouraging words. All animals big or small deserve to be treated respectfully,
except for Mcdonalds cows and KFC chickens....they're here for our enjoyment !! lol