Ryan
04-11-2010, 03:48 AM
It has been so long since I updated everyone on the progress of my control group, and for that I have to sincerely apologize. Unfortunately, sometimes real life gets in the way. I don't have any recent pictures yet but I will try to snap some soon.
I've had to cut back on my water changes to about 80% every other day. I also added pellets (Hikari Cichlid Gold, sinking type) into the diet to keep the tank a bit cleaner. The beefheart really makes a mess when they tear it apart. I have not been power feeding the fish; they get meals about three times a day. I usually give them one big meal of frozen food and then a few palmfuls of pellets when I'm working in the fish room.
My fish are not as large and bulky as some of the other contest fish, but I decided to keep them in their 55 gallon since I'm the control group. The advice on Simply has always been that you can grow six discus to adulthood in a 55 with proper water changes and feedings, so that's what I set out to show.
The fish have topped out at 5 - 5.5" or so, and mine didn't develop as much patterning (either white striation or red spots) as some of the other members' fish.
They are, however, spawning. I've had eggs several times now. I've put a cone or two in the tank to let them try again.
Overall, the fish are on the small side (especially compared to the monster White Butterflies I had from Forrest a couple years ago!) but they are very healthy and personable.
I will try to get a couple shots of them soon.
I've had to cut back on my water changes to about 80% every other day. I also added pellets (Hikari Cichlid Gold, sinking type) into the diet to keep the tank a bit cleaner. The beefheart really makes a mess when they tear it apart. I have not been power feeding the fish; they get meals about three times a day. I usually give them one big meal of frozen food and then a few palmfuls of pellets when I'm working in the fish room.
My fish are not as large and bulky as some of the other contest fish, but I decided to keep them in their 55 gallon since I'm the control group. The advice on Simply has always been that you can grow six discus to adulthood in a 55 with proper water changes and feedings, so that's what I set out to show.
The fish have topped out at 5 - 5.5" or so, and mine didn't develop as much patterning (either white striation or red spots) as some of the other members' fish.
They are, however, spawning. I've had eggs several times now. I've put a cone or two in the tank to let them try again.
Overall, the fish are on the small side (especially compared to the monster White Butterflies I had from Forrest a couple years ago!) but they are very healthy and personable.
I will try to get a couple shots of them soon.