Small Trilineatus?

[MissNoodle]

Ive had this fish for months, was quite small when we got him, but while his female companions grew double their size, he barely has grown even a 1/4 inch. He stays smaller, barely over an inch total. Markings are also different than my other tris.

^these are in bag, the tiny poor things when i got them... the one with the crooked spine straightened out and porked up into a nice large female.

^all 3 when younger... the small one in question is in the back

^same three together, the small one is at the front. Since this photo the male paleatus has doubled in size while the small trilineatus has not grown.

[MissNoodle]

Wasnt letting me post the rest of the photos to the first post...

^small one now. Markings more "reticulated" than the other two.

^paler marked third one has doubled in size... female. Small tiny spots, faded mark on dorsal.

^ the one with the crooked spine now. Not crooked, female, bold line markings, tipped black dorsal fin.

Just a runt or what?

[bekateen]

Maybe not literally a runt, but obviously the slowest growing. The color pattern of trilineatus is variable, and even on individuals it changes with age. The color patterns your three fish have are completely consistent with trilineatus growing up.

I wouldn't worry about the size differential. But if it bothers you, you choosing try boosting its feeding with live foods or worm flakes or sticks to enhance its growth.

Cheers, Eric

[MissNoodle]

Maybe not literally a runt, but obviously the slowest growing. The color pattern of trilineatus is variable, and even on individuals it changes with age. The color patterns your three fish have are completely consistent with trilineatus growing up.

I wouldn't worry about the size differential. But if it bothers you, you choosing try boosting its feeding with live foods or worm flakes or sticks to enhance its growth.

Cheers, Eric

I feed bloodworm weekly, they have a staple of sinking catfish pellets (shrimp pellets by Wardley), Aqueon betta pellets, and bug bites for bottom feeders. Once a week algae wafer and also given homemade gel food (made with live mealworms, broccoli, garlic, zucchini, and spinach). Occasionally a treat of cooked shrimp or tidbits of raw smelt. That particular cory eats well, as much as the others, just doesn't grow. Has stopped growing in fact. My females are all gravid at this point too.

Is there a reason for the slow growing or is it just normal?

[bekateen]

As you say, runt, there's always variation in the growth rate of juveniles.

The smallest may eventually catch up in size, or might never. Also it might speed up growth if put with smaller fish instead of larger.

Cheers, Eric