Slow Growth?

[sPuffalopagus]

Hi G.P.Ls (Giant Puffer Lovers),

I have had my Fahaka (Beetroot) for about 8 months.
Bought it when it was only a sliver of a fish, about 4cm (Yes we get them this small in Singapore) and now after 8 months its only grown to about 16cm. I this normal growth? I read alot about how they put on 1"/month.

Diet: Daily
Market Prawns .
Bunches on Ramhorn Snails.
Occasional Fresh Water Clam.

Tank: 30 Gal upgrading to 120 Gal in a month's time.

Thanks in advance for the comments and replies!

Regards,
Jason

[julianchan]

I am no expert on the matter, but it sounds like he is stunted by the tank size. The sooner you get that new tank, the better.

[grubbster]

I'm also not an expert but I don't think he'd be stunted in a 30g at this stage, although not ideal it is still not that small. I think your fish compares quite well to mine - I bought Clarkson in January and he was about 4 or 5 cm and now - 7 months later - I'd say he was about 13cm (plus tail), he's in a 60g and still looks quite tiny in the corner. Some people do report growth of an inch a month, but not everyone. I have heard of Fahakas being just 20cm after 2 years so not all are the same.

Mine seems to go through phases of eating well and growing a bit then eating less and not growing for a while - I think he is healthy enough, just not aways desperate for food. This seems to be another variation I have heard - some will always be on the hunt, aggressively seeking out food - but Clarky often just hovers in the 'dead spot' where the water movement is least and if he wants feeding he swims up and down at the front of the tank when I walk in the room - quite obviously! Today for instance he was flapping around wanting to be fed, I hand fed him a defrosted mussel (a big one!), he munched through it and now is resting again in the 'dead spot'. But yesterday he was not too fussed, I put some snails in and he ignored them - but a few hours later he decided he would eat them after all. He used to lie on the bottom while digesting but recently he's been at the top mostly. My water quality is top notch and always has been so I don't think anything is wrong. In some ways I'd like one that was super-aggressive - but he is young yet (and maybe a bit spoiled) so his temperament is quite calm and happy.

[sPuffalopagus]

Great! That's good news.
Problem now is, when I feed him MPs, his poop comes out grey... Not stringy... In big grey clumps.
Was wondering if it was not fully digesting the food or it has I.P??!!
Poop coloration deffers according to his diet. He shows no other symptoms of I.P infestation...

Begs half the time I see it. Other half... Its hunting loose shimps in his tank.

Is this weird?
Could it be IP (grey poop)?

Thanks,
Jason

[Ariadne]

In a tank that size... water changes, water changes, water changes. To keep your fish healthy and try to keep him growing to any potential your nitrates need to be kept a less than 10ppm. It is the best most important thing you are going to be able to do for your fish until it gets that bigger space. I would be testing that water twice a week.
I wish you much success in setting up the 120 gallon, it is very rewarding to put all the knowledge one gains in keeping smaller tanks into a big project like that

[grubbster]

Sorry, I'm no expert on fish Poo! Clarkson tends to have amix of sometimes the stringy variety and other times a 'cloudy puff' (I wish I could think of a better way of describing it ) Not sure I can learn anything from this though - in dact I have rarely seen him poo and there isn't often much stringy stuff to vacuum up. Hopefully someone better qualified will be along soon for a better diagnosis!

Oh yes - as Ariadne says - regular tests and water changes to make sure he stays healthy.