How long do they grow?

[Melody]

Princess Zap, the Electric Yellow Cichlid, would have been fine in her 10G if one goes by her length and depth. However, when she was probably around 3.5" long, I watched her and she seemed very cramped in the 10G. She just didn't have room to swim. I don't keep other Cichlids or fish that would be fine with her in small quarters, so she got a 20G all to herself.

Now she's much bigger, longer, deeper and even wider. Although I would have liked to give her a 50G to herself, it obviously isn't feasible and she is able to remain healthy in a 20G so that's what she gets. Still, she seems bigger to me for some reason and starting to push the limits for swimming space.

Could she actually be growing after all this time. I can't remember when we got her, but I'd say she's around 5 years old, maybe older. I know some fish continue to grow slowly for most of their life, so I wondered if I'm imagining things or if she's actually growing still.

Next question, do they prefer depth or width? I thought maybe the 20G long would be better for her in regards to swimming space, but I don't know how much they like their depth.

Thanks!

[fishykisses]

i'd say mine like length rather than depth. I'm not sure about the growing issue, i think it's very possible she's still growing although i've never had an electric yellow. I'm surprised all the time when my cichlids get bigger when i think they're already at full size.

[Sarahs]

Electric yellow, yellow labs.. they are about 4" full grown. if shes alone in a 10gallon, shes probably fine in there.
Sarah

[Melody]

She's in a 20G now, the 10G was too small, I was looking at a 20G long. She's over 4" now, she's a mutt. Thanks for your input!

[AquaScaper]

My male pushed the envelope at just a little over 5" and he seemed to really prefer having length wise swimming space he never really went up and down too much unless it was chow time. He used to patrol his turf back and forth at the lower levels and rarely if ever bothered anyone swimming at mid and high levels. Sometimes he almost reminded me of a shark, the way he swam back and forth always on guard for someone to cross the invisible border he created.
As far as growth rate, I'd say it's possible for her to fill out more as she ages but I'm not too sure about the length part. If she's a mutt though, it's possible that she's crossed with a slower to mature fish and then I guess anything is possible.
How bout posting a pic of the fishy so we can all oooooohhh and awwwwwww at her::D:

[thegrandpoohbah]

I think a 20G long would be a good choice. Too bad they are so darn expensive around here...

[Melody]

Thanks for the views! I have a 20G long so I was thinking of shuffling everyone.

This is an old pic of her. If I turn on the lights she attacks the glass and bangs her face up, silly cichlid, so I don't have a whole lot of pic's.

http://members.linkopp.com/biz/workathome/images/MM-ElectricYellowLab-F-Zap.jpg


I'm not sure what else she has in her, but she's not a bad looking fishy regardless and we won't be breeding her.

[CACAdmin]

She may be a mutt but she sure is a very pretty mutt.:yes: Thanks for posting the pic.