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What kind of growth can I expect out of a juvenile fish.

Probably slow. Feed them brine and spirulini for faster growth. Powerheads help make them grow faster due to more excercise too.

I had my fronts for 2 years, since they were 1" fries. Now the alpha is almost 6 inchs and females are 3-4 (2 have spawned so far).

Usually the male grows alot faster than the females. Females grow about 1 inch every 6 months while a male grows 1" about every 5 months.

Large weekly water changes (50%) with frequent good quality feedings will also provide optimum growth opportunity.

I'm not sure on this, but I read somewhere that higher temperatures make young fish grow faster. I've also read that hard water (because of the minerals in it) is conducive to fish growth. I'm not absolutely positive that these theories are correct, but it would certainly be worth looking into.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Both are fairly true, particularly the temperature thing - but the higher metabolism that the higher temps cause requires much more frequent feeding, and can shorten lifespans.

-Molly
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Like what little mousling said, higher water temperatures will fasten their growth, but will also reduce their life span.

I would stick to a normal and healthy diet. Depending on the size of your tank, I would do two 30% water changes a week instead of the 50% reccomended on smaller aquariums. 50% would go for tanks 100 gallons +

Do not overfeed them.

1) it causes the fish the be larthgic and obese.
2) The coloration of the fish would not be
as bright or intense, not so much with frontosa as with other more colorful cichlids.
3) they can grow to unnatural sizes. Maybe you want this, but it can lead to health problems.
4) not to mention the way it can affect water quality and algae blooms.

Do what is said above. Good water and diet is key. Those fish are slow grower, but worth the time invested.

I have a cyptrocara moori(blue dolphin, original electric blue) and it is a slow grower too. Good things come with patience.