Livebearer Fry Not Growing?

[fry_forever!]

Hey guys. I raise my livebearer fry in a 16 gallon tank, do almost daily water changes, (25%) feed them BBS every couple weeks, etc, etc.

They never grow any more than half an inch. Yeah, I have around 50 fry, but even when I had 10 or 20, they never grew to full size.

They grew bigger when I raised them in a breeder net!
Why is this? It's frustrating me! The only way they grow bigger is if I put them in a SMALLER tank,with a bunch of adult fish.

It's SO weird! Does anyone know what's going on?

Thanks!

 

[fish48]

feeding BBS every couple weeks is not enough. feed every couple of days Specially for the first 2 or 3 weeks.

for the first couple weeks a small tank is best for growing on fry they then won't need to spend half there time searching for food.

when they are kept in with adults hey have got to compete with them to get the food .most fish will do well when kept with adults.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I can have loads in my breeder tanks and i only use finely crushed fish flake and they still grow fine.

 

[fish48]

yes so can i but live foods are simply the best
View attachment 58075

 

[OldMan47]

Nice picture of a daphnia Fish48. How did you get a picture sharp enough to blow it up that big?

 

[fish48]

Oldman if I new that all of my pictures would be Great its just luck lol

 

[fry_forever!]

Thanks guys. Sorry I didn't get back to this for a long time. They are in two 10 gallons now. If that's any better....