Brian's 2018 grow out challenge...

[jeep]

Hope everything stays normal Brian. My guys will eat dry foods but reluctantly, they go nuts for Al FDBWs. What else are you feeding beside BH flake?
Pat

Right now it's frozen BH, BH flakes and Colorbits. I know many people don't care for the bits but they list a pretty high protein content and I've always used them with great success. My Passions were basically raised on them while I was traveling and used an auto feeder and they drew out healthy and large. I also need to get some FDBW's...

[jeep]

Group shot during water change...

challenge 33.jpg

Nice shape but I wish his bars were straight...
challenge 35.jpg

[modealings]

Looking great Brian. All very consistent in size it seems. I wonder if the lines will straighten up as they grow (also first time ive noticed and/or heard of this problem).

[jeep]

Buyer beware!!! I got these cheap little digital thermometers on ebay after seeing the rave reviews. 3 for $8, lol. Don't be tempted!!!

thermo1.jpg
thermo2.jpg

[jeep]

Looking great Brian. All very consistent in size it seems. I wonder if the lines will straighten up as they grow (also first time ive noticed and/or heard of this problem).

Thanks Eric! Actually, uneven or broken bars in a 14 bar SS has always been pretty common. In really bad cases, I use to cull them when I was breeding LSS's. Hopefully, as they grow, the bars will become less pronounced. Here's one of my turqs. It has good shape and size but a broken bar on only one side. I call him X-man, lol...

challenge 36.jpg

[sanjay21]

They are looking awesome Brian All of them are looking consistent in size. Great job !

[Phil4Discus]

You've been doing a great job, Jeep! I've been steadily reading everyone's threads to learn from the best! :-) Thanks for sharing so much info!

Also, those thermometers can be hit or miss, but I've had success with them for the most part. I bought a 10 pack and only 1 was really off. Others may be a +/- 0.5-1.0 off. They will go bonkers if they get a little wet though, as that happened to me during a water change. haha

Looking forward to witnessing your group grow more and more! Good luck!

[Mando]

Buyer beware!!! I got these cheap little digital thermometers on ebay after seeing the rave reviews. 3 for $8, lol. Don't be tempted!!!

thermo1.jpg
thermo2.jpg

I bought the same one and thought one of my heaters had broken. From one day to the other it went from reading 84 to 76. I bought a new heater and nothing changed so I ruled out the heater and figured the cheap amazon thermometer was the culprit.

[Second Hand Pat]

The fish are looking great Brian. The bars are not as broken as you might think in the SS. If you look closely there is a crease along the lateral line going back to the tail. I suspect the line will fill in as the fish matures and the bars will appear straight.
Pat

[jeep]

The fish are looking great Brian. The bars are not as broken as you might think in the SS. If you look closely there is a crease along the lateral line going back to the tail. I suspect the line will fill in as the fish matures and the bars will appear straight.
Pat

I hope so!!

[jeep]

We're kind of on cruise control right now, but when you see them every day, it's hard to see daily growth. I was forced to skip water changes for 3 days but they seem to have suffered no negative effects...

I'm still feeding BH quite often, but they're now fully accepting other foods as well. Here they are eating BH flakes for breakfast...

challenge 37.jpg

challenge 38.jpg

[Mr.BigBlock]

They're coming along nicely!

Joie

[danotaylor]

Nice one Brian. It might be my imagination but the bars on the SS seem to have slid back into place a little since your last pic, tho it could be the angle as well. Keep at it mate, goin great guns

[jeep]

Thanks guys!!! Danny, I think it's the angle. I don't know if it's even possible, but I really hope they can straighten out!

[jeep]

I'm getting ready to leave town and have no one to help with water changes and feedings, so I got some auto feeders and moved them into a larger tank. Hopefully they can last 6 days without a water change...
I measured them all as I moved them but I kinda failed, lol. I injured my shoulder and had a hard time doing this all with the use of only one hand and I guess I didn't keep the fish parallel to the tape so they all look 3 inches. I can't re-take the photos at this time so I will update with more accurate pics when I return and hopefully have the use of both hands. In the mean time, here is my feeble attempt...

This is the smallest and I think the only straight photo...

3 months 8.jpg

Here's one of the largest but the tape disagrees...

3 months 2.jpg

3 months 5.jpg