Frontosa, help in growth

[T]

Whats the prefered food to assist in a Frontosa to grow faster??
--
Tim...

[Amateur]

"T" > wrote in message
hlink.net...
>
> Whats the prefered food to assist in a Frontosa to grow faster??
> --
> Tim...
>
>

Cypichromis. =)
If you prefer not to spend that much feeding your fronts, you can try feeding
white worms, brine shrimp, mysis two to three times a day, whatever they'll eat
in a minute. With a high protein and frequent feeding regiment, water changes
will be needed every two to three days or even more frequent depending on
density of fish.
AC

[NetMax]

"T" > wrote in message
hlink.net...
>
> Whats the prefered food to assist in a Frontosa to grow faster??
> --
> Tim...

You will get opinions right across the map on this one. Since they are
carnivores (piscivores), you want a mostly meat menu. I don't feed
Fronts feeders (for many reasons), but they would represent a natural
food source. If you were breeding fish, dropping your culls into the
Front tank would at least be healthy, but it would make them more
aggressive, which is often undesirable in an aquarium.

Other menu items, shrimp, krill, earthworms, beefheart, bloodworms (when
smaller), discus chow, community menu (frozen food), silversides (when
larger). I also use a lot of pellets (going to larger sizes as they grow
bigger). Floating pellets can cause problems with swallowing air, but
I've never experienced this problem, probably because my Fronts were
always F1+ and tank raised. I also feed Spirulina sticks. Even
meat-eaters can take a little salad on the side ;~). There has to be
different vitamins etc in Spirulina, and if they don't need them, or
cannot ingest them, then I'm quite sure that it will pass harmlessly
through. Variety is the order of the day.

For fast growth, you want to feed several times a day, 4, 5 etc and your
filtration has to be sized correctly. As filtration systems are
basically there to process fish waste, then when you are feeding
aggressively, you need to upsize your filtration. If you are feeding 4
times a day, then you should at least double your filtration (ie: 200g
filtration for your 100g tank), and don't be afraid of over-filtering,
especially in a 100g tank.

Running higher temperatures will increase their metabolism, but use this
technique with caution. Water changes will become a very regular
occupation for you, as they are also a function of fish waste, and
keeping the water extra clean will accelerate growth. Fish farmers
report that water quality is the most important aspect in achieving fast
growth. Look into an automatic water change system ;~), or at least have
an overflow or drain beside the tank, and a hose ready to fill it. hth

NetMax

[Bob]

great post, raise temp, feed more often and change water often as
possible...that is the best way to make your fish grow fast. Keep in mind
the water quality...as NetMax says, it "is the most important aspect in
achieving fast growth"

but I wanted to point out that frontosa is a slow growing fish (at least
ime)...and one of the problems I always have is getting the frontosa to eat
that much....it doesn't seem to have the appetite of some of my other fish.

[NetMax]

"Bob" > wrote in message
...
> great post, raise temp, feed more often and change water often as
> possible...that is the best way to make your fish grow fast. Keep in
mind
> the water quality...as NetMax says, it "is the most important aspect in
> achieving fast growth"
>
> but I wanted to point out that frontosa is a slow growing fish (at
least
> ime)...and one of the problems I always have is getting the frontosa to
eat
> that much....it doesn't seem to have the appetite of some of my other
fish.

Odd. They are certainly less aggressive, but in a grow-out species-only
tank without the competition, I've found them to be pigs. Mix them with
fast aggressive fish, and they don't eat anywhere near as well.
Otherwise, I'd look at water parameters. Overly soft or acidic
conditions seems to suppress their normal behaviour. The ones I have in
6dgH 7.6pH don't seem to be as vigorous as those in 16dgH 8.5pH.

just my limited experience
NetMax

[T]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Bob" > wrote in message
> ...
> > great post, raise temp, feed more often and change water often as
> > possible...that is the best way to make your fish grow fast. Keep in
> mind
> > the water quality...as NetMax says, it "is the most important aspect in
> > achieving fast growth"
> >
> > but I wanted to point out that frontosa is a slow growing fish (at
> least
> > ime)...and one of the problems I always have is getting the frontosa to
> eat
> > that much....it doesn't seem to have the appetite of some of my other
> fish.
>
> Odd. They are certainly less aggressive, but in a grow-out species-only
> tank without the competition, I've found them to be pigs. Mix them with
> fast aggressive fish, and they don't eat anywhere near as well.
> Otherwise, I'd look at water parameters. Overly soft or acidic
> conditions seems to suppress their normal behaviour. The ones I have in
> 6dgH 7.6pH don't seem to be as vigorous as those in 16dgH 8.5pH.
>
> just my limited experience
> NetMax
>
>

I thought about it this way, I posted a similair question to another group I
go to concerning increased growth in Koi.. The answer is typically what I
expected, especially the water conditions and filtration. In both cases the
Koi and Front were purchased for later private resale. ( these guys are not
sharing the same quarters, unlike my Koi and Oscar tank I had going a while
back ). I do have plenty of filtration handy if needed.. The Front is
sharing a tank with his close cousins from Malawi for now.. If I keep up
with the water qaulity on this tank like the other Malawi tanks I should do
alright ( the 30g fry tank, at times I can get about a 1/4 in of growth from
fry in a weeks time..feeding flake, algae tab's and fresh and frozen BS ). I
don't think the Front will gain a 1/4 inch a week, but we can try.. I am
not sure which variety it is, but appear often in these parts.
Six strips and more silver, with the longer flowing finage with a baby blue
sheen..

Tim.. Cdn in Cali

[Kodiak]

What is the deal with Frontosa's, why are they so expensive?
....Kodiak

"T" > wrote in message
link.net...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Bob" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > great post, raise temp, feed more often and change water often as
> > > possible...that is the best way to make your fish grow fast. Keep in
> > mind
> > > the water quality...as NetMax says, it "is the most important aspect
in
> > > achieving fast growth"
> > >
> > > but I wanted to point out that frontosa is a slow growing fish (at
> > least
> > > ime)...and one of the problems I always have is getting the frontosa
to
> > eat
> > > that much....it doesn't seem to have the appetite of some of my other
> > fish.
> >
> > Odd. They are certainly less aggressive, but in a grow-out species-only
> > tank without the competition, I've found them to be pigs. Mix them with
> > fast aggressive fish, and they don't eat anywhere near as well.
> > Otherwise, I'd look at water parameters. Overly soft or acidic
> > conditions seems to suppress their normal behaviour. The ones I have in
> > 6dgH 7.6pH don't seem to be as vigorous as those in 16dgH 8.5pH.
> >
> > just my limited experience
> > NetMax
> >
> >
>
> I thought about it this way, I posted a similair question to another group
I
> go to concerning increased growth in Koi.. The answer is typically what I
> expected, especially the water conditions and filtration. In both cases
the
> Koi and Front were purchased for later private resale. ( these guys are
not
> sharing the same quarters, unlike my Koi and Oscar tank I had going a
while
> back ). I do have plenty of filtration handy if needed.. The Front is
> sharing a tank with his close cousins from Malawi for now.. If I keep up
> with the water qaulity on this tank like the other Malawi tanks I should
do
> alright ( the 30g fry tank, at times I can get about a 1/4 in of growth
from
> fry in a weeks time..feeding flake, algae tab's and fresh and frozen BS ).
I
> don't think the Front will gain a 1/4 inch a week, but we can try.. I am
> not sure which variety it is, but appear often in these parts.
> Six strips and more silver, with the longer flowing finage with a baby
blue
> sheen..
>
> Tim.. Cdn in Cali
>
>

[NetMax]

Supply & demand. The demand for Fronts is fairly high, but the supply is
very bad. They take much longer than your average tropical fish to reach
sexual maturity, and then they don't have a lot of fry.

NetMax

"Kodiak" > wrote in message
.. .
> What is the deal with Frontosa's, why are they so expensive?
> ...Kodiak

[Amateur]

"Kodiak" > wrote in message
.. .
> What is the deal with Frontosa's, why are they so expensive?
> ...Kodiak
>

In addition to what Net Max stated, frontosa are found at depths of 60 feet and
greater. Fish found this deep need to be decompressed while being raised to the
surface. The frontosa are netted by divers and placed in a netted box. The box
is then brought up ten to twenty feet at a time. Once the frontosa are almost
floating at the top of the netted box, the divers stop the ascent and leave the
box for a day. When they return, it the frontosa have equalized, they'll bring
the box up a little further. Depending on the depth and the vigilance of the
divers (which isn't real high in Africa), it could take two to five days to
bring frontosa to the surface. Since they don't exist in huge schools and due to
limitations on stay limits while diving, only a handful of fronts are caught at
a time. I'd guess less than twenty. And with every catch of ALL the wild caught
fish, there are losses from fin damage, stress, predation in the boxes by eels,
etc.
AC

[T]

Defianatly an intresting species.. One of the more larger fish from
Africa.. Lake Tang fish.. The adult males have the intresting appearance..
Fat lump on thier fore heads and long flowing finnage.. I believe thier are
7 total speices of Frintosa.. Coming from different areas of the lake... My
fellow has 6 black bars, with the body remaining fairly white. The lower
fins have a blueish tinge to them.. If I had a decent computer and camera I
would post a picture of the fish.. I got him at a great price Approx. 3
inches long for $25 USD .. Most fish of this size I have seen go for around
$40 to $50 dollars US.. I thought I was up for the challenge of keeping a
Frontosa after spending just over a very educational year with Malawi's..

Tim... Keep on Fishin'....


"Amateur" > wrote in message
m...
>
> "Kodiak" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > What is the deal with Frontosa's, why are they so expensive?
> > ...Kodiak
> >
>
> In addition to what Net Max stated, frontosa are found at depths of 60
feet and
> greater. Fish found this deep need to be decompressed while being raised
to the
> surface. The frontosa are netted by divers and placed in a netted box. The
box
> is then brought up ten to twenty feet at a time. Once the frontosa are
almost
> floating at the top of the netted box, the divers stop the ascent and
leave the
> box for a day. When they return, it the frontosa have equalized, they'll
bring
> the box up a little further. Depending on the depth and the vigilance of
the
> divers (which isn't real high in Africa), it could take two to five days
to
> bring frontosa to the surface. Since they don't exist in huge schools and
due to
> limitations on stay limits while diving, only a handful of fronts are
caught at
> a time. I'd guess less than twenty. And with every catch of ALL the wild
caught
> fish, there are losses from fin damage, stress, predation in the boxes by
eels,
> etc.
> AC
>
>