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I just got some baby petricola from the lfs and for me they seemed a bit small to be selling,they have grown some but dont seem to grow that fast are they slow growers because they are a dwarf species or is this just these fish that I have.I have them in a 20 gallon tank with a couple of bristle nose they seem quite content.I change the water about 25% per week and the temp is about 76 degrees.They get fed mostly flake food but the occasional blood worm is thrown in.I wonder if this is an ok set up or should I try something else,any suggestions to do with this I would greatly appreciate.

Hi there

Petricolas are not the fastest growers around so size increase will be slow. You didn't say how big they were to begin with but the smallest i've seen retail are 15mm. I seem to think that optium growth occurs in larger tanks even though they adapt well to smaller tanks. i am currently feeding mine on a 'new' granule food made by Dragon which is made from marine ragworms which they seem to really enjoy along with Tropical welsi gran which again they really seem keen on.

Keep us posted on how yours are going

Richard B

I got them at about the size of 20mm and they have grown to about 30mm in the span of six months or so.I have a 130 gallon tank with a variety of syno and cichlids.Given there size I wonder if it is a wise thing to do to put them in the tank,given also that these are the only ones that I have had success with in keeping them long enough.I want to see them get big and add some more as the breeding process is fascinating.I hope to do this but first I have to get them big enough.Do you think that I should put them in with the big boys.I would love to do this but I am leary of this the last small syno I put in I have yet to find.Thanks for the return and info.Rob

I bought 3 petricolas several months ago. They were about 50 mm. They went into a 210 gallon tank with lots of other synos, including a couple dozen big guys (>125 mm). They are doing well and have doubled in size. I have lots of wood, so there are plenty of hiding places to choose from and they don't seem to be bothered by the larger cats, but they do seem to stay away from the main group feeding frenzy when food first hits the tank.

I would be hesitant to introduce your little guys (30 mm)into a tank if you have bigger catfish. They might have trouble getting enough to eat and could get bounced around a bit by the bigger ones.

I'm getting realy good growth out of my Petricola feeding New Life Spectrum twice a day and veggie flakes once a day.

My petricolas are 40-50mm currently & in with 5 other species of tanganyikan synos mostly 100mm but going up to 140mm. There is very little friction dircted to the smaller ones, but i wouldn't want to put in anything below 40mm just in case. I have found that it is generally the case that the new additions when small are panicked by larger specimens rather than the larger specimens picking on the new small additions.

it all depends on the ration of fish to available hiding places & in a big tank there should be plenty of room to hide away & establish territories.

I don't see my baby granulosus for days on end even at feeding time with lights out - but every so often he/she dashes between rocks only to disappear again. (I have a massive amount of rockwork nearly taking up 50% of the tank volume)

Thanks for all that,I also have lots of rock work in the tank.I have no plants and some wood,but it is the rocks that they seem to like to hide in.I have made it a habit that where I go if it is clear water I try to get a decent rock,this is great for the kids to,as they seem to like getting involved in this.Thanks for all the help.