Speeding up the growth of fish?

[Blue Lobster]

I was just wondering to myself if there is a way to make my fish grow quicker. Since I stocked my tank using the 1"-10 gallon rule it looks a little sparse right now. 2 years from now it will be great, but I am impatient.

Besides good care and feeding is there any food or suppliment I can add to the tank to get my balas up to 12" quicker? Side effect would be a large pleco and some HUGE angels but that would be ok too.

 

[canarsie11]

Top quality food. i.e live or frozen

Water changes water changes water changes

 

[wrs]

what do you mean by 1inch per 10 gallons? I have never herd of that one before.

When raisng fry, people put up the heat so that it is in the 80's. That might work for adult fish as well. Though raise it slowly if you decide to.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Try good quality food. And a large variety too. Ie, frozen, live, freeze dried, many assortments of flake. Water changes and good quality water.

Fish will grow at different rates all relative to what sort of fish they are, where they are living and how good that environment is.

Healthy fish show good growth, so aim for Number 1 quality in evreything.

PS, sometimes patience is required with fish keeping.

EDIT: i wouldnt raise the temp. It speeds up the motabolism and waste production in your fish. They only do this because they want to turn over young as quickly as possible. They dont really care much about fish health.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Feed them more times a day.

 

[Yenko]

Small feedings as often as you can. It's what professional bodybuilders do; it's the best way to make any animal get bigger.

 

[Blue Lobster]

Try good quality food. And a large variety too. Ie, frozen, live, freeze dried, many assortments of flake. Water changes and good quality water.

Fish will grow at different rates all relative to what sort of fish they are, where they are living and how good that environment is.

Healthy fish show good growth, so aim for Number 1 quality in evreything.

PS, sometimes patience is required with fish keeping.

I do a 20% change every 3 days, 3-4 feedings of flake, frozen, shrimp pellets and sinking hikori Wafers. Everyone is eating well and the water is clear and within parameters.

I guess I just have to wait. It was easier to justify the smaller fish based on price, 5.50 for a 3-4" Bala vs. 17.50 for a 5-6" one. When you are buying 5 it adds up quickly.

I will give them live food soon, any suggestions for balas and angels? I don't want to use feeders since disease is THE enemy.

 

[sushi]

warmer...... more food.....good food. works for me.

 

[PhunFishGuy]

SCIENTIFIC FACT: Warmer temperatures speed up fishes metabolic rates (grow faster).

 

[Dwarfs]

SCIENTIFIC FACT: Warmer temperatures speed up fishes metabolic rates (grow faster).

But that can also lower their life expectancy, goldfish can live for over 20 years but when kept in a tropical tank they usually live for a fraction of that.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

I would just let them grow normally, and feed normally. One of the best parts of fish keeping is watching your fish grow, once their at their max, they sort of get boring.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

well, you can raise temperature until they get big enough to put in the main tank. im guessing it will only take a few weeks off their life span