| |
 |
| Aquariums And Aquatics, Fishing Tackle and Reptile Supplies Superstore. Including the best Reef One BiOrb & BiUbe Aquarium Tank range around |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Featured Products |
|
|
| Aquamania Aquatics |
Growth In Aquarium and Pond Fish
|
There are many ways of expressing ‘growth’, but broadly it can be defined as the increase in gross body weight and/or size over time. Proper growth is essential for long-term health of the fish, since growth abnormalities are generally irreversible and incurable.
Fish do not grow at a steady rate. During early development, their rate of growth (elative to body weight) can be extremely high. For example, the fry of some species are capable of increasing in weight by up to 40% per day.
|
|
With the onset of sexual maturity, the growth rate slows down and a significant proportion of the diet is channelled into gonadal development: ovaries and testes. When fully adult, growth effectively ceases.
Healthy Growth
Paramount to healthy growth is proper nutrition: the right quantity and balance of nutrients presented in an edible and digestible format. Whereas adult fish require food for bodily maintenance only (mostly for energy and tissue repair, and for gonad development), young fish additionally need food that can be converted into bodily growth.
This is reflected by food-intake differences: an adult fish require about 0.5 - 1% of its body weight in food each day (for example, a 100g fish would need 1g of food daily), whereas the daily food requirement of young fish may be as much as 10 – 15% of its body weight.
The protein content of the diet is especially important for young fish. A suitable protein composition for young fish would be around 45% of the diet. However, quality of the dietary protein is as important as its quantity. It should contain the ten amino acids (such as arginine, histidine, isoleucine, and others) and in the right amounts require by fish to manufacture new tissues.
If the diet contains in imbalance of essential amino acids then the fish will not be able to utilise the protein efficiently; and much of it will be broken down into toxic nitrogenous wastes (notably ammonia) that are excreted into the water.
As fish breeders know, young fish are particularly sensitive to water pollution, hence a highly digestible diet is crucial for both healthy growth and good water quality.
|
|
In terms of growth performance, a poor diet will lead to a low Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), defined as:
|
|
Properly Balanced Food Growth
In addition to the right sorts of protein, the growth food should also contain the correct balance of micronutrients, including all the essential vitamins and minerals that fish need.
Feeding an inferior growth food that has an imbalance of these nutrients may lead to irreversible developmental abnormalities in the young fish. For example, studies on carp, catfish and other fish have shown that a dietary lack of phosphorus leads to poor growth and various bone defects such as demineralisation (leading to fragile bones) and spinal curvature.
Which is the Largest Species of Fish?
The record goes to the whale shark, which can reach 15 metres (50 feet) in length, possibly more. The sturgeon family also contains a few monsters. For example, a white sturgeon weighing 800kg was caught in Oregon, USA, in 1892.
In Russia, a beluga sturgeon, estimated to exceed 1000kg, was caught in 1926. The specimen yielded 180 kg of caviar!
Among tropical freshwater fish, the South American arapaima is known to reach 3 metres (10 feet) in length and 100 kg in weight. However, there are unsubstantiated sightings of 17 foot long arapaima, which, if true, would make this species the world’s largest strictly freshwater fish!
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Normal Opening Hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 9:15am - 6:00pm
Thursday - Friday: 9:15am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 9:15am - 6:00pm
Sunday: 10:30am - 4:30pm
(6:00pm closing on Fridays during winter opening hours)
Address: Aquamania Ltd, Kent Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 1DE
To ensure quality service and training procedures are upheld, all correspondence
concerning website orders, complaints and other queries must be directed through
email only. This is to enable us to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Telephone Order Placement Line: 01254 665662
General Store Enquiries: 01254 663399
Email: info@aquamania.co.uk
Terms, Conditions & Policies
Indoor Aquatics | Outdoor Aquatics | Biorbs & Biubes | Birds & Small Animals
Cats & Dogs | Fishing Tackle | Live Plants | Live Tropical Fish | Live Fish Food
Reptile Supply | Juwel Aquariums | Reptile Care Sheets | Animal Care Sheets
VAT No. 674 5118 25 | Incorporated in England No. 3959731
Reg. Office 22-28 Willow Street, Accrington, BB5 1LP
© 2005-2007 Aquamania - Aquariums, Reptiles, Pet Supplies, Fishing Tackle
and Aquatics Supply Superstore |
| |
|
|
 |
|
View Basket
Recover Basket
Ordering Help
