not growing?

[TayHudson]

I've noticed 2 of my 4 clown loaches don't seem to be getting as big as the other 2. I don't know if its because of internal parasites, or they're just slower than the others. I watched them all eat today and they're little pigs. The 2 yoyo's are growing well even with the ich issuse I'm currently having. I just don't know.

[clint]

Clowns are slow growing, I feed flake/wafer type food daily, along with fresh cucumber or squash, with shrimp offered at night. I've had my 4 small clowns for almost a year now and all have grown, but not dramatically. One is larger then the rest, two are near in size and the fourth is the smallest of all even given the amount of food available to them. I have a 5th clown, but he is still acclimating, hiding alot, but does come out for shrimp every night. My point is they are a slow growing, long lived fish, patience.

And its not impossible to rule out some sort of parasite as well. Mine are growing and fat so i doubt any parasite on my end. I've had mine a year almost now and they have maybe tripled from their 1" size when i got them. They are as long as my zebras, but much stockier.

[starsplitter7]

Stunting before you got the fish is also a potention factor. Clean water and good feedings should help.

[meganq]

is protein is beneficial for fish????

[Diana]

Tay:
When you have several of the same species and some are growing and some are not, but all seem to be eating well, then it is entirely reasonable to use a wormer on the whole tank. The ones that are still growing may have already picked up a few worms, just not enough to affect them, yet.

Meganq:
Protein is a required part of the of all fish. Even herbivorous fish eat some plant protein, and some microorganisms and small animals in their diet. Most fish in nature are omnivores, and eat all sorts of bugs, worms, crustaceans, and other things, including other fish. All of these are sources of protein.

Young fish need more protein to grow than the adults of the species. Fish that are reproducing also need extra protein.

Feed a high quality fish food that does not contain fish meal or grains. You want the protein to come from whole fish, shrimp, worms and similar sources.
check out such sources as Omega One, and Almost Natural Tropical Fish Food. Also, frozen foods such as brine shrimp, blood worms and other things.

Protein breaks down in the tank, either by fish digestion, or fallen food that gets decomposed by bacteria and other microorganisms. It shows up as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
When you are feeding fish that need a high protein diet, keep a close eye on the water parameters, and be ready to do water changes as needed.